HIV/AIDS relatively unscathed in the proposed House Budget
House Republicans in the legislature rolled out their budget yesterday. Lisa Hazirjian, Executive Director of the North Carolina AIDS Action Network (NCAAN), has reviewed the budget and reports that HIV/AIDS funding has mostly been protected. There were no changes to ADAP funding or state-funded prevention. This is good news, especially since other important programs did take significant cuts.
Other good news — the House budget preserves a provision in the budget that protects HIV drugs from any prior authorization requirement in the Medicaid program.
Also, the House included a provision authorizing an initiative proposed by the Perdue administration that would permit ADAP funds to be used to buy full insurance for ADAP clients through the NC Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program that was created under federal health reform. While we are disappointed by both the governor’s and the house’s plan, which would implement this program only on a limited basis at three large medical centers, it is still a great benefit for PLWHA and will save money for the ADAP program. Those who participate will have good, full insurance. ADAP will pay for premiums, copays and any other cost sharing. The ADAP/Inclusive Health Proposal does include an error as to how many clients can participate. Hope that will be fixed.
On the down side, per Lisa, there are cuts to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The HIV and IV Drug portion of this grant, which provides testing and prevention services, is reduced in the House Budget from $5,116,378 to $3,919,723.
House HHS Budget documents
ADAP/Inclusive Health Proposal
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