C2EA recommends one-year-only Ryan White extension to speed reform; White House’s Crowley says change is coming
National Secretary Marsha Jones and C2EA say the time for Ryan White reform is now—not three years down the road.
The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) released its position paper on a re-authorizing the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act this week. The national coalition of people living with HIV and AIDS recommended that the legislation only be extended for one year, with specific benchmarks regarding preparations for integrating Ryan White into fast approaching federal health-care reforms and President Obama’s promised National AIDS Strategy.
Read the position paper
The existing Ryan White legislation sunsets on September 30. “Ryan White has always been an imperfect approach to fighting AIDS in the U.S. and now we know that health care reform is coming,” said C2EA National Secretary Marsha Jones. “It is absolutely essential that the AIDS community limit the Ryan White extension to one year with a focus on rewriting the legislation. If we extend it for three to four years, as many advocates would like, we are going to get left behind.”
C2EA leaders worry that based on the current Ryan White legislation and funding system, community-based organizations that depend upon Ryan White funding are not prepared to work with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers, all of which are likely to be key players in the impending healthcare reform landscape.
Crowley: Change is coming
Housing Works Vice President of National Advocacy and Organizing Christine Campbell says that Jones’ concerns echo what has been coming out of the White House.
“In my conversations with [Office of National AIDS Policy Director] Jeffrey Crowley, Crowley has made it very clear that the AIDS community needs to be prepared for major changes, especially being ready to work with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurers,” said Campbell. “Improving the flexibility of Ryan White is important step in making sure that happens.”
C2EA has proposed three benchmarks that would ensure a smooth transition to a new health care era:
- By month one of the extension, the creation of a bipartisan committee tasked with ensuring effective links between Ryan White and health care reform.
- By month six, development of reworked Ryan White language that includes strategies for meeting the needs—such as health care access and substance abuse services—of people living with HIV AIDS, including but not limited to women of color, ethnic minorities who identify as MSM and people living in rural areas.
- By month nine, completed draft legislation reflecting the work of the bipartisan committee.
For more information regarding C2EA’s effort to improve Ryan White and ensure that community-based AIDS organizations are ready for health care reform, contact Campbell at campbell@housingworks.org.