America Living With AIDS

5. States and/or the federal government should pay the COBRA premiums for lowincome people with HIV disease who have left their jobs and cannot afford to
pay the health insurance premium.
6. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries who are disabled and
have HIV disease or another serious chronic health condition should have the
option of purchasing Medicare during the current two-year waiting period.
Medicaid should be required to purchase Medicare coverage for low-income
SSDI beneficiaries.
7. The federal government should fund the Ryan White CARE Act at the fully
authorized level.
8. The following interim steps to improve access to expensive HIV-related drugs
should be taken:
(a) adequately reimburse for the purchase of drugs required in the prevention
and treatment of HIV disease, including clotting factor for hemophilia;
(b) undertake, through the Department of Health and Human Services, a consolidated purchase and distribution of drugs used in the prevention and
treatment of HIV disease;
(c) amend the Orphan Drug Act to set a maximum sales cap for covered drugs.

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