For Immediate Release
August 2, 2007
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Press Contacts:
Noel Alicea office: 212 367 1216 / cell: 917 583 6657
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GMHC APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF
EARLY TREATMENT FOR HIV ACT
New York, NY — Gay Men's Health Crisis commends the introduction of the Early Treatment for HIV Act ("ETHA") in the U.S. House of Representatives and applauds Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) for their bipartisan leadership in supporting the reintroduction of this vital initiative, which would expand and safeguard access to medical care for low-income people living with HIV.
"With more than 40,000 people in the U.S. becoming newly infected each year, early access to life-saving medications and treatment is essential for the health and quality of life for thousands of low-income individuals living with this deadly disease," said Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of GMHC.
If passed, ETHA would allow states to amend their Medicaid eligibility requirements to ensure that people living with HIV gain access to critical treatment options before HIV progresses to full blown AIDS. Current Medicaid eligibility requirements inadequately address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Successful passage of ETHA would bring Medicaid eligibility rules in line with federal government guidelines on the standard of care for treating HIV. Since HIV positive individuals do not automatically qualify for Medicaid, many lack critical treatment and medicines to help slow the progression of HIV and prevent the onset of opportunistic infections. Providing therapy earlier keeps individual viral loads suppressed, delays the immune system weakening that permits opportunistic infections, and reduces the spread of HIV by curbing infectiousness by 60%.
A meaningful commitment to stemming the epidemic and securing the well-being of people with HIV cannot be met without a guarantee of immediate access to lifesaving medicines, treatment and services for all those newly diagnosed with HIV. GMHC will work with elected officials from both parties to obtain passage of this bill along with its companion bill in the Senate (S.860).
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, and outreach and education to hundreds of thousands throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.gmhc.org.
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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