By Amy Killelea, Senior Manager, Health Care Access, NASTAD

On March 23, 2010 the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. Three years later, many reforms are already helping people living with HIV and viral hepatitis access care and treatment:

• AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) contributions now count toward Medicare Part D out-of-pocket spending, helping people living with HIV get through the coverage gap (“donut hole”) quicker.
• Thousands of ADAP clients have been able to access insurance through Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs).
• Private insurance plans are now required to cover a range of preventive services (including services with a United States Preventive Services Task Force grade A or B as well as women’s preventive services) without cost sharing.
• Several states have implemented the Medicaid Health Home program, which allows states to provide care coordination services – such as peer counseling, targeted social services referrals, and treatment management – for people with multiple chronic conditions, including HIV. Continue reading →

By Amy Killelea, Senior Manager, Health Care Access, NASTAD

In January, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a much-awaited proposed rule spelling out the “Essential Health Benefits” (EHB) requirements for newly eligible Medicaid beneficiaries (those ineligible for Medicaid under current Medicaid rules who will be eligible under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014 if states opt to expand). Comments may be submitted through the federal regulations website and are due February 21, 2013. The rule addressed a number of areas, the following of which will have a significant impact on people living with HIV and viral hepatitis: Continue reading →

By Amy Killelea, Senior Manager, Health Care Access, NASTAD

The Medicaid expansion is a significant opportunity to expand access to care to people living with HIV and viral hepatitis, making the debates over expansion playing out in state governors’ offices and legislatures incredibly important. Because of the Supreme Court decision limiting the federal government’s power to force states to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion, there is a real question of if and when every state will comply with the expansion. Continue reading →