HIV/AIDS issue

By Lorraine Rinker, legislative analyst

Things were looking up during last year's budget process when Governor Schwarzenegger approved increases for HIV/AIDS programs for California. Today the tables have turned. In response to a $14 billion state deficit, the governor's proposed 2008 budget includes an $11 million cut in state funding of HIV/AIDS programs, indicating a reversal of fortune.
Here is a breakdown of the proposed cuts:

$7 million reduction to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program
$3.6 million cut for local HIV prevention and housing programs
10% reduction in Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rates

What these budget cuts mean:

Removal of certain drug classes from the formulary, used to manage side effects and co-morbid conditions—hindering adherence to antiretroviral therapy and seriously undermining the health of ADAP clients
Reduction in services for HIV education and prevention, counseling and testing, early intervention programs, and therapeutic monitoring
Elimination of certain optional Medi-Cal benefits essential to half of HIV-positive Californians living with HIV/AIDS

The biggest concern voiced by many HIV/AIDS program advocates regards the impact these proposed cuts will have on low-income people who depend on public support for medications and medical care. Without access to such programs, many low-income individuals living with HIV will face new illnesses and have no choice but to go to hospital emergency rooms when they are ill.

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation said, "California will ultimately pay more in health care costs in the long run if it adopts such ill-timed AIDS cuts, and we urge the governor and legislature to quickly restore this public health funding. The governor should instead seek cost savings by reducing bureaucracy and eliminating the abundance of corporate and tax-avoidance loopholes in the state, rather than try to balance the budget on the backs of California's most vulnerable citizens." (AHF press release, 1/10/08.)

The good news is that HIV advocates are actively working with alliance partners and foundations across the state to encourage the governor and legislature to consider other budget choices as they address the state's current deficit. Partnering and alliances are formulating ideas for alternative budget solutions. This momentum needs to continue with increased support.

Assemblyman John Laird (D–Santa Cruz), chair of the state assembly's budget committee, started the ball rolling soon after the governor's proposed budget announcement by presiding over a hearing on the proposed budget mid-January in Sacramento. At the same time, members of the California HIV Alliance, a group of seven AIDS agencies from across California, met to map out a strategy on how to beat back the cuts.

Laird's recently published Assembly Budget Committee Report states, "While the governor took an 'across the board' approach, the plan now before the Assembly Budget Committee takes a more fine-tuned approach. Still, the solutions hit every area of the budget, but in many cases avoids the most negative impacts proposed by the governor. In health, the plan resulting from this fiscal emergency special session reduces Medi-Cal rates by 10% but puts off the cut until July 1 to enable this cut to be further evaluated, and perhaps restored in the regular budget process. And the plan does not include any of the governor's proposed cuts to optional Medi-Cal benefits." (Fiscal Emergency Special Session Subcommittee Report, 2/14/08)

Thousands of Californians depend on essential public services to manage their HIV. The governor and legislature must find alternative savings in the HIV/AIDS budget to avoid doing harm to the thousands of Californians living with HIV/AIDS. Assemblyman Laird and his budget committee and sub-committee chairs are currently proposing solutions to ensure that doesn't happen. They need continuing support and encouragement to keep moving forward. Please sign the sample letter enclosed with this newsletter.

Sample Letter

Please copy the following text into your favorite word processor and customize it. Return it to LLP so we can track it.

The Honorable
The California State Legislature
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Assembly Member:

A $14 billion budget deficit. A proposed $11 million cut in HIV/AIDS funding for 2008-09. Enormous numbers with an enormous impact.

Here’s another set of numbers. More than 84,000 Californians are currently living with HIV/AIDS and more than 84,000 have died. Real numbers reflecting the effect this devastating epidemic has on our state.

Please use every resource you have in yourself and in the state assembly to consider other budget choices to address the state’s deficit in order to protect essential health and human services program for the thousands of Californians living with (or are at risk for) HIV/AIDS.

With thousands of Californians depending on essential public services to manage their HIV, your ability to find alternative savings will put monies back into the education and treatment programs essential to stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

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HIV/AIDS issue

Sample Letter

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