America Living With AIDS

a timely and ongoing fashion and should work with the federally funded AIDS
Education and Training Centers, as well as professional medical societies, to
reach as many people as possible.
5. The Department of Health and Human Services should conduct a study to
determine the policies of third-party payers regarding the payments of certain
health service costs that are provided as part of an individual's participation in
clinical trials conducted in the development of HIV-related drugs.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
1. A comprehensive national HIV plan should be developed with the full participation of involved federal agencies and with input from national organizations
representing various levels of government to identify priorities and resources
necessary for preventing and treating HIV disease.
To develop the comprehensive national HIV plan, the Commission calls upon the
President of the United States to designate an individual or lead agency with the
authority and responsibility for instituting a cabinet-level process to articulate
the federal component of an HIV plan, develop a mechanism for interagency as
well as state and local participation and coordination, and establish a timeline for
completion of key tasks.
2. All levels of government should develop comprehensive HIV plans that establish
priorities, ensure consistent and comprehensive policies, and allocate resources.
These plans should build on the national HIV plan and be developed at the state
level with clear direction and support from each governor and at the appropriate
local level (city or county) with clear direction and support from the appropriate
locally elected official body. Each level of government should have an HIV Advisory Committee that is composed of representatives of diverse community-based
organizations; the private sector; religious organizations; public safety officials;
people living with AIDS; housing, health, and social service agencies; and other
appropriate representatives.
The Commission recognizes that most states and many local governments may
have an HIV plan. However, these existing plans should be carefully reviewed to
ensure that they are up to date and comprehensive, and that they coordinate the
entire spectrum of prevention and treatment services.
3. Implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act should be carefully monitored, and states and localities should evaluate the adequacy of existing state
and local antidiscrimination laws and ordinances for people with disabilities,
including people living with HIV disease.

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