GMHC Congratulates President Barack Obama on His Re-election

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New York, NY — Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis) issued formal congratulations to President Barack Obama on his re-election to the Presidency of the United States. "We have worked closely with the Obama Administration and have seen his leadership in securing creation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and passage of the Affordable Care Act. These two steps will greatly assist people living with HIV and AIDS, ensuring their coverage under health plans and making certain that life-sustaining medications are made available to them. His leadership has saved countless lives and we look forward to continuing our progress together towards an AIDS-free generation."

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, was a remarkable step forward in healthcare reform, aiming to increase the number of Americans who were covered with health insurance, while reducing healthcare costs. This landmark legislation contains provisions that are important to people with HIV. ACA prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, including HIV, and starting in 2014, it will ensure coverage for all people living with HIV or other pre-existing conditions. It also prevents people with pre-existing conditions from being charged a higher rate for the same coverage and from insurance plans imposing annual or lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits. Insurance plans are now required to offer HIV-screening test for people at-risk for infection at no additional cost to them.

Most people with HIV in the United States have health coverage through either Medicare or Medicaid. Thus, the option for states to extend Medicaid coverage to all Americans with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level ($14,000 for an individual and $29,700 for a family of four), will greatly help low income adults with HIV, who will no longer have to wait for an AIDS diagnosis to become eligible for Medicaid. Many HIV-positive people without health insurance rely on AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). President Obama's increase in funding for this initiative has eliminated most waiting lists to access anti-retroviral medication. The ACA will also close the gap in Medicaid Part D coverage, known as the "donut hole" by 2020, by requiring discounts on the price of drugs and counting ADAP benefits as contributions toward the out-of-pocket spending limit.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), unveiled by the Obama Administration in 2010, sets ambitious goals to increase testing and treatment of HIV. GMHC hopes in a second term that we will see even greater progress in implementing the Strategy. Janet Weinberg, GMHC's Chief Operating Officer, noted, "We have made progress towards increasing testing and combating stigma, but much more remains to be done, and we need to ensure that AIDS service organizations and health departments across the country are provided sufficient funding to achieve these objectives."

In addition to the ACA and NHAS, President Obama has been the most LGBT friendly president in the history of the United States. He led efforts to repeal the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prohibited openly LGBT people from serving in the military. He has publicly supported marriage equality for same sex couples (including opposing statewide initiatives to codify discrimination into their state constitutions). He directed the U.S. Department of Justice to stop defending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the courts. The President has also issued an Executive Order ensuring same sex partners have visitation rights in hospitals. He has appointed more LGBT people to positions in government than any of his predecessors. His advocacy has led to many Americans reconsidering their position on LGBT civil rights, moving the country away from discrimination and towards greater equality.

"GMHC salutes President Obama for all that he has done for people living with HIV and AIDS, for the LGBT community, and for the causes of racial equality and social justice. We look forward to working with him to achieve even greater success in his second term," concluded Dr. Hill.

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About GMHC
GMHC is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS.  We provide prevention and care services to men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.