URGE YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT THE EARLY TREATMENT FOR HIV ACT

Please send a free fax to your Senator urging them to support the Early Treatment For HIV Act(ETHA). Click on the Take Action button above to send your free fax or go to http://hrc.grassroots.com/hivaids/ETHAurge108/

Current regulations do not allow the Medicaid program to pay for or provide services to people with HIV disease until they are diagnosed with AIDS. With an AIDS diagnosis, a person is defined as disabled and therefore can access the Medicaid program. The ETHA, S.B. 847, introduced by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)would change those regulations so people with HIV could access Medicaid before they become too sick to work and are diagnosed with AIDS.

Treating individuals with HIV early in the progression of the disease provides numerous benefits. By providing therapeutics earlier, treatment costs will decrease, new HIV infections will decrease because of lower viral loads, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program will be able to provide care to more individuals with HIV because of savings and most importantly, the quality of life for countless HIV positive individuals will be improved. Simply put, providing coverage earlier rather than later is the right thing to do.

Please take action today!