Joint Commission on Health Care HIV/AIDS Study Released — Please Read and Contact the Commission Members!
On October 25, 2005 the Joint Commission on Health Care released the study report on the impact of federal funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Virginia. The time frame for public comment is shorter than the usual.
Please review the study at legis.state.va.us/jchc/10.25.05HIVReport.pdf and write the Joint Commission members to inform them about the significance of their decisions by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4. You may also view the slide presentation at legis.state.va.us/jchc/10.25.05HIV.pdf .
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STUDY TO HIV/AIDS SERVICES IN VIRGINIA !!
Please send YOUR comments to the Report as follows: By fax to (804) 786-5538. By Email to charrison@leg.state.va.us .
Please — Also share with VORA your comments to the Joint Commission about this study by emailing SRowland@VORAonline.org.
Excerpts from VORA's comments follow: (the options referenced here are in the report)
(W)e are providing the following reactions to the report:
Option I: Take no action.
We do not support this option.
Option II: Introduce a budget amendment (language and funding) to expand the HIV resistance testing program.
We support this Option, with the $265,110 GF as recommended. Should VDH represent another amount as necessary to accomplish the program, VORA would also support that amount.
Option III: Introduce a budget amendment (language and funding) to cover federal rescissions in prevention funding.
Option IV: Introduce a budget amendment (language and funding) to cover the federal unfunded mandate, Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative.
We support these Options, and recommend greater state allocations than the totals sited in the report. Prevention services are essential to control the spread of the HIV virus. Any shortfalls from federal funding should be met by the State, and to seek a return to appropriate levels of federal funding, communications must be made by the General Assembly to the Virginia federal delegation to highlight the negative impacts of funding reductions and unfunded mandates upon the Commonwealth.
Option V: Introduce a budget amendment (language and funding) to stabilize access to HIV primary care services in Northern and Southwest Virginia.
We strongly support this recommendation. These funds should be initially administered by the Virginia Department of Health, and the same income limitations currently in place for RWCA Title II program (administered by VDH) could be applied to the services supported with these funds.
Adult Virginians with HIV/AIDS who do not qualify for Medicaid (income is not low enough or nursing home eligibility is not met) and who do not have private health insurance and personal resources to pay out-of-pocket for treatment and medications MUST rely upon public programs to provide these basic health services. Early and consistent treatment assures the best health opportunity for that individual to remain within the workforce and a contributing Virginian.
The $1,077,000 GFs recommended should be the minimum amount considered in this Biennium. Other amounts should be added to allow for relief in other areas of the state should further reductions in federal funding result in waiting lists for primary care services in other regions.
Option VI: Introduce a budget amendment (language and funding) to provide additional funding to offset projected ADAP shortfall.
Option VII: Introduce a budget amendment (funding and language) to create a SPAP to serve former ADAP Medicare Part D eligible clients.
We strongly support these options as the supplements of General Funds to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the establishment of a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program are necessary to prevent the development of a waiting list in Virginia, and will assure that newly diagnosed individuals will have access to medications as early as possible.
Experts repeated highlight the importance of ready, reliable, and consistent access to HIV/AIDS medications as means to assure a maintenance or return to health, and to assist in the reduction of transmission of the virus to others. The dedication of state General Funds is an investment in the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS to remain in the workforce as contributing Virginians, and to slow transmission of the virus.
The amount appropriated should match the amount predicted by VDH as necessary to prevent the development of waiting lists.
Option VIII: Introduce a resolution, encouraging the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry to investigate and if appropriate apply for funding under the RWCA Dental Reimbursement Program and the Community-Based Dental Partnership Program.
We strongly support this option in order to support the improvement of dental services for persons living with HIV/AIDS statewide. We would recommend, however, that as VCU’s School of Dentistry is housed at one of the state’s universities, that the Assembly’s communication to VCU instruct the School of Dentistry to seek RWCA funds through application to the federal government at its next round of offerings. Should there be a decision by the School not to seek this funding source, an explanation should be provided publicly to the JCHC.
Option IX: Continue to monitor activities involving RWCA and federal funding by including the issues on the JCHC workplan for 2006.
VORA also strongly supports the continued monitoring of Virginia’s HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.
In the next year, the JCHC should ask for information on:
• The results of work undertaken within the Northern Virginia region to improve the efficient use of public funds in providing treatment services. A project is currently underway in Northern Virginia, requested by the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry and funded by the Washington AIDS Foundation. Similar support should be made available to providers in all regions of the state in order to maximize public funding for treatment services.
• Virginia’s Medicaid Plan and the services provided to persons living with HIV/AIDS under the Plan, compared to services available in other states. As Ryan White CARE Act funds are diminished, the state’s Medicaid Plan provides another option for sharing the cost of care with federal sources.
• The impact upon Virginia of changes to the Ryan White CARE Act as a result of the expect reauthorization of the Act by Congress this year. The RWCA is authorized for just 5 years at a time, and the Act’s authorization expired on September 30, 2005. Reauthorization is expected shortly, and a number of significant revisions are proposed. The JCHC should be informed of these changes, along with the expected impacts upon Virginia’s system of prevention and treatment services.
Furthermore, VDH, DMAS, the teaching universities, and other major medical care providers that serve persons living with HIV/AIDS should regularly report to the JCHC on the status of prevention and treatment services. Such regular reporting would allow the Commission’s members to react proactively with appropriate policy and budgetary responses, assuring that Virginia stays in front of the HIV-virus, and is not driven to higher rates of infection as already seen in other states.