The Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) is an important step to improving health care for people with HIV—and would address the cruel fact that in many states people with HIV can’t access Medicaid because they aren’t sick enough to receive it. Although ETHA was included in earlier versions of health care reform, it’s noticeably absent in the latest health care legislation.

But there’s still time! New Yorkers can put pressure on the bill’s Senate sponsor, Senator Chuck Schumer, to include ETHA in the final health care reform bill! Non-New Yorkers can tell President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to inlcude the bill in health reform legislation!

Pelosi was an original cosponsor of the ETHA legislation, and President Obama is on record supporting ETHA. The bill was included in the original House version of the health care reform legislation, but wasn’t in the Senate bill. They know ETHA is the right thing to do—we just need to put pressure on them to do it!

New Yorkers, call Sen. Schumer at 202-224-6542 and tell him to include his bill, the Early Treatment for HIV Act, in health care reform.

Non-New Yorkers, call Speaker Pelosi at 202-225-4965 and the White House at 202-456-1111, and tell them to include the Early Treatment for HIV Act in health care reform.

With the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in crisis, ETHA represents an important bridge to 2014, when the Medicaid expansion in health care reform goes into effect. Your help is greatly needed and much appreciated!