Dear Friends,

On November 19th, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate introduced "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (HR 3590) -- containing many provisions which will improve the care of those living with HIV/AIDS.

It is critical that the Senate act soon to pass a meaningful health care reform bill to ensure a final compromise bill is sent to President Obama for his signature before the end of the year.

The Senate version of the bill contains many provisions that would benefit people living with HIV, such as:

• A public insurance option (although it offers an opt-out option for states)
• Allowing AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) expenditures to count towards True Out-of-Pocket expenses in the Medicare Part D program.
• Medicaid coverage expansion to all childless adults up to 133% of federal poverty level.
• Prohibition against discrimination based on health status in the private insurance market.
• Subsidies to help keep health insurance affordable.
• Expansion of national public health, prevention, and medical workforce capacity.

Please contact your Senator to urge passage of meaningful health care reform, including a public health insurance option as well to provisions to help those living with HIV/AIDS. Demand your Senator vote for comprehensive legislation that would give American’s the health care we urgently need. The sooner the Senate passes a bill, the sooner a final bill can be negotiated and sent to President Obama for signature. As the Senate takes action on health care reform legislation in the coming days, please be an important part of the process and contact your Senator.

Thank you,

Project Inform's Policy Team

Ryan Clary, Director of Public Policy

Anne Donnelly, Director of Health Care Policy

Michael Friedman, Program Associate