The groups urge policymakers to protect people with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable populations through an equitable approach that balances revenue increases and spending reductions.
The stakes in this debate could not be higher for people with HIV/AIDS. Recent research findings from the National Institutes of Health show that effective HIV treatment not only saves the life of the individual with HIV but also significantly reduces HIV transmission. The proposed deep cuts to health care programs, including Medicaid and Medicare, would come at a time when the nation should be doubling efforts to improve HIV prevention and diagnosis and access to HIV care in order to pave the way for long-term savings and an end to the HIV pandemic.
Massive health care cuts will cost us more over the long-term when it comes to HIV disease. We now have the tools to keep people with HIV healthy and make real headway in curbing new HIV infections, but cuts of the size being considered will cripple our ability to put science into practice. Serious cuts to Medicaid would undermine implementation of health reform and make it impossible to achieve the worthy goals of the Administration's National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
We are at a pivotal time in the battle against HIV disease. Our country and people with HIV/AIDS cannot afford significant health care cuts. Congress and the President must consider the impact of their decisions on people with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable populations now and for years to come.
CONTACT:
David Ernesto Munar
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
312-334-0933
773-814-5606
DMunar@aidschicago.org
CONTACT:
Cub Barrett
amfAR
847-571-0609
cub.barrett@amfar.org
CONTACT:
John Heys
HIVMA
703-299-0412 (office)
703-915-0458 (cell)
jheys@idsociety.org
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I think most politicians, especially Republicans, could care less about the human impact of their cuts. From many articles I have read, in my opinion, Republicans are protecting only the wealthy and large Coporations. I think the greed of the wealthiest 1-5% is out of control and Republicans are encouraging this behavior at the expense of their own citizens. I typically vote independantly (party affiliation does not matter to me). But after seeing the horrible things Republicans are capable of, I will not be voting for them in this election cycle.
Besides bitching about all this, what can clients do to make an impact and inform one another.