Background:

In 2008, Congressional leaders, and President Obama began a roughly two year process of developing legislation to fundamentally reform health care systems in the United States. Many legislative proposals were considered by various committees in Congress, including a plan submitted by President Obama.

The final health reform bill - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

Current Status: 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as the “Affordable Care Act” or “ACA”) includes many provisions important to the practice of HIV care that will be phased in over the next decade. AAHIVM is closely monitoring implementation of the law, and providing input on how various aspects are carried out.

AAHIVM Advocacy:

Comments to Senate Finance Committee on Delivery Systems 4/21/09
Comments from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to the Senate Finance Committee relating to the roundtable discussion on reforming America’s health care delivery system.

Comments to Senate Finance Committee on Expanding Health Care Coverage 5/22/09
Comments from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to the Senate Finance Committee relating to the roundtable discussion on expanding health care coverage.

Letter to Senate HELP Committee on Health Care Disparities 5/6/09
Letter from AAHIVM and the HIV advocacy community on prioritizing reduction and elimination of health care disparities.

Letter to House Energy & Commerce Committee on Prevention in Health Reform 5/11/09
Letter from AAHIVM and the HIV advocacy community on public health and prevention in health reform.

Petition to Congress for Public Plan Option and Medicaid Expansion 8/4/09
An open petition to all Members of Congress from the HIV advocacy community on a national public plan option and a federally supported Medicaid expansion in health reform.

Letter to President Obama on Public Plan Option and Medicaid Expansion 8/20/09
An open petition to all Members of Congress from the HIV advocacy community on a national public plan option and a federally supported Medicaid expansion in health reform.

Letter to President Obama on HIV Testing in Health Reform 6/26/2009
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV advocates on routine HIV testing and health reform.

Letter to Senate Leaders on HIV Testing in Health Reform 6/26/2009
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV advocates on routine HIV testing and health reform.

Letter to House Leaders on HIV Testing in Health Reform 6/26/2009
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV advocates on routine HIV testing and health reform.

Letter to Senate Finance Committee on Health Reform and PLWHA 12/16/2008
Letter from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus on health reform components important to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Comments to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on Healthcare Reform Medicaid Expansion 03.01.11
Comments from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on Proposed Healthcare Reform Medicaid Expansion  

Comments to Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) on Proposed Healthcare Reform Interim Final Rules for Health Plans 9.21.12
Comments from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) on Proposed Healthcare Reform Interim Final Rules for Health Plans

Letter to Congress Opposing Repeal of Affordable Care Act 07.2011
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV/AIDS Community to Congress Opposing Repeal of Affordable Care Act

Letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Opposing Repeal of Affordable Care Act and Medical Loss Ratio 9.14.11
Letter from AAHIVM and the Health Care Access Working Group to House Energy and Commerce Committee Opposing Repeal of Affordable Care Act and Medical Loss Ratio

Letter to Energy and Commerce Committee in Support of Prevention and Public Health Fund (Fund) and the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) 3.29.2011
Letter from AAHIVM, the Health Care Access Working Group and the AIDS Budget and Approprations Coalition to Energy and Commerce Committee in Support of Prevention and Public Health Fund (Fund) and the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) 

Letter to House Representatives in Support of Comprehensive Healthcare Reform 03.18.10
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to House Representatives in Support of Comprehensive Healthcare Reform

Letter to Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committees on Healthcare Reform 10.5.09
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Groupto Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committees on Healthcare Reform

Letter to Senator Merkley in Support of Creating an Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Advisory Commission 07.13.09
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV/AIDS Community to Senator Merkley in Support of Creating an Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Advisory Commission

Letter to Speaker Pelosi on House Healthcare Reform Bill 10.9.09
Letter from AAHIVM and HIV Health Care Access Working Group to Speaker Pelosi in Support House Healthcare Reform Bill

Recommendations on Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Essential Health Benefit Package 07.2011
Recommendations from AAHIVM and the Coalition for Whole Health on Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Essential Health Benefit Package