Policy & Politics
U.S. Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Encourage States to Provide Medicaid Coverage for Low-Income HIV-Positive People
February 14, 2005
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) last week introduced legislation that would offer states financial incentives to provide Medicaid coverage to low-income, HIV-positive individuals before they develop AIDS, the Bend Bugle reports (Bend Bugle, 2/8). The Early Treatment for HIV Act, first introduced in 2003, would provide additional Medicaid funds to states that invest in HIV treatment and allow states with budget deficits to continue to provide medical treatment to HIV-positive, low-income individuals. Under current Medicaid rules, HIV-positive people must wait until they can be categorized as "disabled" before receiving treatment through the program (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/9/03). The bill is similar to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act, which provides states the option to classify affected individuals as "categorically needy," and therefore eligible for Medicaid, before their conditions worsen (Bend Bugle, 2/8).
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This article was provided by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. It is a part of the publication Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report. Visit the Kaiser Family Foundation's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.