Cross-posted from AIDS.gov
Last week, HRSA published a Final Notice in the Federal Register, and invited comments, amending the uniform standards for requesting a core medical services waiver for fiscal year (FY) 2014 and beyond. This revision provides Ryan White grantees more flexibility in the timeframe for applying for waivers. The change in the standards will allow grantees to apply for a waiver at any time up to their annual Part A, B, or C application submission, at the same time as their annual Part A, B, or C application submission, or up to four months after their grant award for that funding year. It will also allow grantees to plan with certainty about the waiver and to make adjustments to their Ryan White Care funded systems in response to Affordable Care Act implementation in their areas. Continue reading
October 1, 2013 – the date when the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) marketplaces open for enrollment – is less than four months away, and there is much still be done to ensure a smooth transition to coverage through these marketplaces. The marketplaces, which will allow people to compare and purchase “Qualified Health Plans” (QHPs), provide a tremendous opportunity for people living with HIV to access comprehensive, affordable private insurance – many for the first time. Maximizing access to private insurance will be particularly important in states that do not expand Medicaid in 2014. However, engaging with and navigating the private insurance options will involve new issues and concerns and a new insurance vocabulary. 
With federal and state funding for HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis services increasingly constrained, it is essential that health departments explore alternative sources of support to ensure the sustainability of vital services. Full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides new opportunities for health departments and implementing partners to leverage resources made available through third-party reimbursement. Please visit 