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| 2. Access to Care Access to early medical care and treatment for HIV remains elusive for many people in the U.S., including those who have low income and are either underinsured or uninsured. Currently available HIV treatments are expensive, effective only for some, and associated with debilitating side effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, today nearly one million people are living with HIV in the United States – roughly half of whom (500,000) are without access to regular medical care. Barriers in accessing quality HIV care result in disparities in health outcomes, which are most often experienced by people with low incomes, women, minority populations, and LGBT populations. Access to HIV care means ensuring that everyone living with HIV is able to get the health care services they need, regardless of income or ability to pay. Federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Ryan White CARE Act, Veteran’s Health services, and the Community Health Centers provide a critical safety net for those who are most in need. The quality of HIV care that an individual receives is key in determining their health outcomes and, moreover, it reflects our ability to design and implement an effective public health response to the epidemic. Therefore, advocates must ensure that the Public Health Service guidelines for care and treatment of HIV become the minimum standard of care for all people living with HIV. This will help ensure that people living with HIV get the highest quality of care and thus enjoy the best health outcomes possible. As HIV disease progresses, treating it becomes more complicated. Over time, HIV can be compounded by resistance to anti-retroviral drugs as well as by life-threatening infections and conditions that must be accurately diagnosed and quickly treated. In addition, HIV infection is often accompanied by co-occurring conditions that require medical support services such as substance abuse, mental health, and nutrition services. It is essential for all people living with HIV to have access to qualified and experienced HIV health care providers who have been trained by knowledgeable HIV specialists and thus can successfully address the complex needs of their HIV positive patients. AIDS Action will work with its members, Congress, the administration, and coalition partners to support access to quality care for all people living with HIV. [back to introduction] |