| 2004 NYS Legislative Agenda
Health, Equality, Pride.
Priority: To increase
the availability of and access to affordable, quality health care
 GMHC
will aggressively oppose cuts to Medicaid and Family Health
Plus — programs that form the bedrock of the HIV/AIDS
care infrastructure. GMHC will aggressively oppose measures in the
Executive budget that would eliminate "optional" benefits in Medicaid.
GMHC will urge the legislature to reverse the Governor's
proposed cuts to Family Health Plus eligibility and benefits,
including the creation of an assets test, the elimination of vision
and dental benefits and the elimination of facilitated enrollment.
Additionally, GMHC opposes the development of a preferred
drug program, and strongly advocates for significant consumer safeguards
— including the exemption of people with HIV/AIDS,
should a PDP be created. Consumers with serious illnesses and disabilities,
like HIV/AIDS, are the people who are most impacted by prior authorization.
We will also advocate for increased affordability of and access
to prescription drugs for people living with HIV including bulk
purchasing and reimportation as part of a comprehensive
effort to bring down the unreasonably high price of medications
provided by publicly funded programs.
Further, GMHC opposes increased prescription drug co-pays
in Medicaid, Family Health Plus or any other public insurance program.
Studies have shown that increased pharmacy cost-sharing for people
with disabilities hinders access and reduces utilization of medically
necessary drugs.
GMHC will also fight the proposed reductions in nutritional
supplement coverage. Access to nutritional supplements
is an important strategy for countering poor nutrition among people
with HIV. Studies show that the inability to prevent weight loss
is a good predictor of progression to AIDS and death. As a leader
in New York's disability community, GMHC will push for the stabilization
of the direct pay commercial health insurance marketplace including
the reinstitution of public rate hearings.
GMHC will also advocate that proceeds from future conversions
of not-for-profit insurers go into a foundation dedicated
to the expansion of health care access. GMHC supports A.
6849 (Grannis) and S.1172 (Seward) legislation designed to ensure
that such conversions will be in the public interest.
GMHC, with the Legislative Action Coalition on Prison Health, will
continue to support the passage of legislation that expands
and improves the healthcare HIV+ inmates receive in New York State
Prisons. This includes legislation to perform yearly audits
of the Department of Corrections healthcare system, legislation
to redefine medical facilities in prisons as Article 28 institutions,
and legislation that provides prevention, education and latex barrier
distribution in NYS Prisons.
Furthermore, GMHC will monitor the implementation of HIV
Special Needs Plans and their impact on our clients and
all people living with HIV/AIDS.
GMHC will continue to support the introduction of legislation that
enhances access to care for HIV+ immigrants.
GMHC will also monitor changes in welfare reform
and the resulting impact these changes will have on women,
the disabled, and health care and employment opportunities for vulnerable
populations. GMHC will press for the reversal of the Governor's
proposed cuts to welfare benefits. Also, GMHC as part of
the Emergency Contraception Access Campaign will work to support
women's access to emergency contraception in pharmacies.
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