amfAR Applauds House Passage of Health Reform Bill

Provisions will expand access to health care for people living with HIV/AIDS

Media Contact:: Cub Barrett, Program Communications Manager, (212) 806-1602

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK (March 22, 2010)—amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, on Monday applauded the U.S. Congress for passing essential health care reform that will give critical access to health care to more Americans living with HIV/AIDS.

“The bottom line is that people living with HIV/AIDS need regular access to reliable health care,” said Kevin Robert Frost, amfAR’s CEO. “Even though this bill isn’t perfect, it is designed to help more Americans—including people with pre-existing conditions, like HIV/AIDS—gain the access and coverage they need to live longer, healthier lives.”

In addition to expanding access to care to more than 30 million Americans, according to lawmakers, the legislation will help people living with HIV/AIDS in several important ways. The bill:

• increases access to private insurance for people with health conditions: patients cannot be denied coverage if they have a pre-existing condition, and companies cannot drop customers if they get sick;\
• increases coverage for a new mandated benefits package that includes preventive care and chronic disease management; and
• prohibits insurance companies from placing lifetime caps on health coverage.

“This is a historic step forward for health care in the United States, and we commend President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for getting this legislation passed,” said Chris Collins, amfAR’s vice president and director of public policy. “There is still much work to do on HIV/AIDS and other health issues, and we will continue to work with Congress to make sure people living with HIV/AIDS receive the treatment and care they need.”

About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $307 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.