Governor Schwarzenegger Slashes Lifesaving HIV/AIDS Programs |
Advocates stunned by disproportionate cuts Assembly faulted for failing to approve revenue to prevent harm
SACRAMENTO, CA - Project Inform today expressed shock at Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget veto that gutted vital HIV care, testing, housing and prevention services in the final Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget. The California Legislature had agreed to a compromise proposal that would have allowed for responsible cuts to HIV programs, but fundamentally protected core efforts in the fight against HIV. However, the State Assembly failed to approve $1.1 billion in available revenues and the Governor used his line-item veto authority to eliminate state funding for all HIV programs except the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and surveillance.
These cuts will severely impact the ability to provide care for low-income people with HIV, identify people who are HIV-positive and don’t yet know their status, and prevent new infections in California. Not only is this an inhumane and shortsighted policy, but it comes at a time when the federal government has recognized the critical need to reinvigorate the fight against HIV disease in the United States.
“Governor Schwarzenegger’s action today was the single largest cut to HIV/AIDS services in California and demonstrated a stunning lack of humanity by balancing the budget on the backs of some of the most vulnerable people in California,” said Anne Donnelly, Director of Health Care Policy. “We recognize the serious budget crisis facing the state, and are prepared to take cuts to help share the necessary pain. However, there is no justification for going so far toward gutting essential services that have been part of a model response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic for almost two decades. We know that there were alternatives to these major cuts, particularly new revenue increases. We are bitterly disappointed that the State Assembly failed to approve $1.1 billion in available revenues that could have prevented this horrible result, and we call upon them to do so immediately.”
Project Inform said it was particularly distressed that HIV/AIDS programs took $59.1 of the $489 million in cuts made by the Governor today. In the final budget, epidemiology and surveillance will receive a $1 million cut, leaving $9.2 million in funding. HIV education and prevention is cut by $24.6 million; HIV counseling and testing by $8.2 million; early intervention programs by $7.3 million; therapeutic monitoring by $8 million; housing by $1.09 million; and home and community-based care by $6.3 million. In addition, $3.4 million was cut from the State Office of AIDS administration. While California continues to receive federal funding for its HIV/AIDS programs, these state cuts will cripple California’s effort to prevent HIV and care for HIV positive residents.
Fortunately, the Governor did protect funding for the lifesaving ADAP, which provides access to treatment for low-income people with HIV. This will ensure that Californians living with HIV will continue to benefit from treatment that keeps them healthy and productive.
“We are appreciative that the Governor recognizes the importance of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and has kept this program whole for the next year,” continued Donnelly. “However, this action does not make up for the drastic cuts in other vital services that will cause harm to those living with HIV, making it more difficult to prevent new infections and increase ADAP enrollment.”
Project Inform with its advocacy partner, Senator Mark Leno, will continue to explore every avenue to restore vital HIV/AIDS funding. |
|
|
APLA CONDEMNS DESTRUCTIVE $85 MILLION CUT TO STATE HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS |
Last-minute maneuver jeopardizes life-saving programs for thousands statewide
LOS ANGELES, CA -- AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) today denounced the state budget signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that strips some $85 million in state general funds from California's HIV/AIDS programs.
"More than just short-sighted, these cuts are lethal," said APLA Executive Director Craig E. Thompson. "We are now poised to reverse more than a decade of progress toward fighting AIDS in California."
The Governor's signed budget includes the elimination of state general fund support for all HIV/AIDS programs except HIV epidemiology and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) -- a total reduction of more than $85 million. This leaves California’s Office of AIDS with only 20 percent of its funding for programs like HIV education and prevention, HIV counseling and testing, home health and early intervention.
"If the ultimate goal is to save money, this budget fails even on that account," Thompson said. "The state will pay dearly in healthcare costs as newly and needlessly infected Californians enter a system that is incapable of providing even basic care."
"Los Angeles County has the second largest AIDS epidemic in the country," Thompson continued. "California was, until today, a model for other states nationwide in HIV/AIDS care and treatment.
"Local health jurisdictions will now be forced to slash other vital programs in order to make up for the state cuts," Thompson explained. "Food, medical transportation, home health -- everything is threatened."
"This is nothing short of a public health disaster," he added. "State leaders must go back to the table and find viable solutions that will not destabilize these vital services."
AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. Marking 25 years of service in 2008, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit www.apla.org. |
|
New York Senate overwhelmingly passes three bills that will assist people living with HIV |
| GMHC commends lead sponsor Tom Duane and entire Senate
ALBANY, NEW YORK — Three bills that will significantly help people living with HIV/AIDS and enhance HIV prevention efforts passed in the New York State Senate late Thursday and early Friday morning, July 16th and 17th. They are:
* S2664, a bill that would cap monthly rent payments for New York City HIV/ AIDS Services Administration (HASA) clients at 30% of their monthly income.
* S3164, the Family Healthcare Decision Act (FHCDA), which would enable family members and others close to the patient (a surrogate) to decide about treatment for incapacitated patients who have not signed a healthcare proxy or left specific oral or written treatment instructions. This is especially important for same-sex couples, whose relationships are not recognized under state law.
* S3842, a bill which would mandate Department of Health review of policies and practices regarding HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C virus at correctional facilities in New York State. This bill, sponsored by Assembly Member Dick Gottfried (D-Manhattan), already passed the Assembly.
The rent cap bill, sponsored by Senator Tom Duane (D-Manhattan), passed by 52-1, following an impassioned and eloquent speech by Senator Duane in the wee hours of Friday morning. Currently, people living with AIDS receiving benefits from HASA who also have other formsof income-including SSI, SSDI, veteran's benefits or work-are forcedto pay all but $330 of their monthly income towards their rent. This leavesthese clients with an unlivable budget of $11 a day.
FHCDA, also lead sponsored by Duane and, when the Republicans ruled the Senate, by Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City, LI), passed unanimously by 57-0.
"Gay Men's Health Crisis commends the New York State Senate, and especially Senator Tom Duane and Senate President Malcolm Smith, for passing these critically important bills," said Sean Cahill, Managing Director of Public Policy, Research and Community Health at GMHC. "The rent cap bill is a top priority of people living with HIV/AIDs in New York City, including GMHC's 15,000 clients. This bill will allow people to stay in their homes and better afford to live in our expensive city. More stable housing will make it easier for people maintain HIV treatment adherence and stay healthy."
GMHC Action Center leader Jim Lister said, "Now, the only clothes I can afford are those of friends who have died. I collect bottles and cans to have money to buy indispensable necessities that I can no longer afford on $11.46 day."
If the Assembly passes the bill and Governor Patterson signs it, " can restore my dignity," Lister added. Assembly Member Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan) is lead sponsor in that body.
"The healthcare decision bill will provide incremental equity to lesbian and gay couples, including many people living with HIV/AIDS," Cahill added. "We urge the Assembly to pass these two bills as soon as possible. The prison HIV bill will ensure that we are doing everything possible to stop the spread of HIV in prison and provide effective and confidential care to HIV-positive prisoners. We urge Governor Patterson to sign it into law soon."
For more background on these three bills, click here to read GMHC's 2009 state policy agenda (PDF).
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
© 2009 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
|
DOJ Tells State Licensing Boards And Occupational Training Schools That It Is Illegal To Bar People With HIV |
| HIV Advocacy Groups That Urged DOJ To Issue The Guidelines Praise The Agency For Its Leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a new fact sheet yesterday informing state licensing boards and occupational training schools – and the general public – that it is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act to bar people with HIV from professions such as barbering, massage therapy and home health care assistance. The new guidelines were issued in response to requests from AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, the American Civil Liberties Union, The Center for HIV Law and Policy, Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders and Lambda Legal.
|
|
Lesbians at Risk for HIV, GMHC Report Shows |
 New York, NY June 29, 2009 - On Thursday, June 25, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) released a report on the vulnerability of lesbians, bisexuals and other women who have sex with women (WSW) to HIV infection, a complicated public health issue that is perplexing to some and ignored by many.
The review of research found that while there are no documented cases of female-to-female HIV transmission, lesbians and bisexual women are still at risk of contracting HIV. Some homosexually active women also have sex with men or inject drugs.
One 2005 study described in the GMHC report, found that lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to inject drugs than heterosexual women. Another study found lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to seek health care than heterosexual women, a risk factor for receiving a late HIV diagnosis.
With more than 15 years of experience, the Lesbian AIDS Project (LAP) at GMHC knows firsthand that there are lesbians and WSW living with HIV/AIDS. GMHC researched the risks lesbians and WSW face as there were growing indications that some lesbians/WSW engage in high risk behaviors that place them at risk for HIV transmission. The objective of the report is not to debate that lesbians/WSW are at the same risk as their heterosexual counterparts, but to acknowledge that there is significant risk of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and additional health disparities for lesbians.
"These risks are exacerbated by racial disparities in health care access, as well as by homophobia, sexism, and stigma," said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "We seek to clarify confusion regarding lesbians and WSW risk in order to create visibility for this marginalized subpopulation of women. Prevention and policy interventions must reach more deeply into communities of women and take into account the context of their lives."
The report underscores the range of risks that lesbians could face in contracting HIV which are directly relatedto experiences and behaviors, and not solely determined by the use of labelsto identify an individual's sexuality and sexual identity.
LAP is part of the Women's Institute at GMHC.
The GMHC report connects to an article in the June issue of POZ Magazine entitled, "The L+ Word." The article focuses on lesbians living with HIV/AIDS, the Lesbian AIDS Project and safer sex tips to prevent woman-to-woman transmission of HIV.
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide. |
|
|
|
