| 2003 NYS Legislative Agenda
AIDS in New York State
New York continues to be the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
in the United States. Since the first cases were identified in New
York City, in 1981, more than 140,000 New Yorkers have developed
AIDS, accounting for almost 20% of the nation's confirmed cases.
The epidemic is expanding; raging in our communities of color—making
up 82% of all new cases, rising among young men who have sex with
men, and steadily increasing among women, who now make up one quarter
of New York's AIDS cases. In New York, racism, gender inequality,
drug dependency, social status, poverty and homophobia continue
to create challenges for people living with HIV and AIDS.
About Gay Men's
Health Crisis
Mission
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership
in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of
HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health
and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and
cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling
this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia
and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians.
True to our heritage while incorporating change, Gay Men's
Health Crisis remains an evolving institution, vigilant in its response
to the ever growing challenges of living with HIV and AIDS.
Who GMHC Serves
GMHC serves one in every five persons diagnosed with AIDS in New
York City. As the world's oldest AIDS service provider, GMHC now
helps nearly 11,000 men, women and children and their families each
year. Our clients reflect the diversity of the expanding epidemic:
69% are people of color, two-thirds are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender, 23% are women, and more than half reside outside of
Manhattan. Most GMHC clients rely on Medicaid, while 15% rely on
the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, ADAP. 25% walk through our doors
without any health insurance at all.
Committed to creating a safe place for all who walk through
our doors, GMHC strives to offer a wide range of programs and services,
always responsive to the changing needs of the people we serve.
Public Policy Priority
Issues
GMHC's priority issues are a reflection of our mission and the
needs of the people we serve. We recognize the state is saddled
with a financial crisis; while mindful of this situation, we believe
it is imperative that GMHC continues to advocate for additional
funds where there are clear and demonstrated unmet needs.
Accordingly, we urge the state to be vigilant in protecting the
health care needs of at-risk populations, who are the most vulnerable
during times of economic hardship. Concerning policy and fiscal
issues, we urge lawmakers not to forget the AIDS crisis that continues
to devastate our communities.
GMHC's 2003 Public Policy
Issues
Priority: To ensure adequate
funding to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In difficult and uncertain times, it becomes more important than
ever to preserve our vital service delivery structure. We support
maintaining the entire 2002–2003 adopted HIV/AIDS
budget, including the $1.75 million enhancement for Community
Service Providers (CSPs), and the $1.75 million enhancements for
Multiple Service Agencies and Community Development Initiatives
(MSA/CDIs).
Additionally, New York must focus on the service delivery foundation;
Community Service Providers have proven effectiveness in service
delivery and provide a wide range of support services. Community
Service Providers (CSPs) like GMHC have been on the frontlines
since the beginning of the epidemic, providing a continuum of HIV/AIDS
services. At GMHC, we continue to see a significant monthly increase
in demand for services—as much as 30% more than at this time
last year.
ADAP, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program is expected
to have as much as a $50 million shortfall in the coming year, and
has already begun implementing cuts to the program. Thousands of
New Yorkers rely on this highly effective program for their life
saving medications and services. GMHC fully supports the Governor's
proposal for significant increased funding to ADAP through the Health
Care Reform Act (HCRA). GMHC will continue coordinating the New
York ADAP Working Group, a growing coalition of more than 40 organizations,
to advocate for the proposed increases in state funding to ADAP
in order to ensure the program's stability.
GMHC will continue to press for an investment in the prevention
of HIV transmission; through reauthorization of the Expanded
Syringe Access Program, by targeting funding toward prevention
programs for young men who have sex with men and
prevention and education programs targeted to women.
GMHC will continue advocating for legislation (A.4204-Gottfried/S.1840-Mendez)
authorizing the State Department of Health to perform yearly audits
of the health care provided in correctional facilities. GMHC will
also support legislation regarding affordable housing especially
HIV/AIDS related housing.
Priority: To increase the
availability of and access to affordable, quality health care.
Together with a broad health care advocacy community, GMHC will
oppose cuts to Medicaid, Family Health Plus and ADAP
— programs that form the bedrock of the HIV/AIDS care infrastructure.
GMHC will aggressively oppose measures in the Executive budget and
in the reauthorization of New York's Health Care Reform Act (HCRA)
that restrict access to care.
Additionally, GMHC will work toward the elimination of
barriers to eligibility and recertification, streamlining
access to broad-based insurance initiatives like Medicaid and Family
Health Plus, and will strongly support the expansion of these programs.
Furthermore, GMHC will monitor the implementation of HIV
Special Needs Plans and their impact on our clients, and
will continue to support legislation that enhances access to care
for HIV+ immigrants.
As a leader in New York's disability community, GMHC will push
for the stabilization of the direct pay commercial health
insurance marketplace through HCRA, including the reinstitution
of public rate hearings. We will also advocate for increased affordability
of and access to prescription drugs for people living with HIV.
Strong consumer protections in a preferred drug program
in Medicaid or ADAP and expanding the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance
Coverage program to the under 65 disabled population are top priorities.
GMHC, with the Legislative Action Coalition on Prison Health, will
continue to support the passage of legislation that expands
and improves the healthcare HIV+ inmates receive in New York State
Prisons. This includes legislation to perform yearly audits
of the Department of Corrections' healthcare system, legislation
to redefine medical facilities in prisons as Article 28 institutions,
and legislation that provides prevention, education and latex barrier
distribution in NYS prisons.
GMHC will also monitor changes in Welfare Reform
and the resulting impact these changes will have on health care
and employment opportunities for vulnerable populations. GMHC as
part of the Emergency Contraception Access Campaign will work to
support women's access to emergency contraception
in pharmacies.
Priority: To prevent the
transmission of HIV.
In the absence of a cure or preventive vaccine for AIDS, our best
hope of stemming the epidemic lies in preventing new HIV
infections. GMHC urges creation of programs that effectively
stop the spread of HIV and continued support of programs that have
been proven to work.
GMHC will strongly encourage the State Department of Health
to embark on a proactive Get Tested campaign.
As the nation begins implementation of smallpox vaccinations for
the military and first responders, it is especially important for
persons to know their HIV status, and not get vaccinated or exposed
to live
vaccine if they are positive.
GMHC will work to support the reauthorization of the Expanded
Syringe Access Program, which has been an effective public
health initiative. GMHC supports the AIDS Advisory Council's recommendations
to ensure continued success of the program.
GMHC will continue to encourage NYS DOH to break out newly
collected HIV surveillance data. In order for this information
to inform our prevention work and facilitate the effective use of
funds, the data must be released more quickly, include transmission
information and spell out trends. This will help ensure the most
valuable and updated prevention strategies can be developed.
GMHC will continue to support targeted programs for the
prevention of HIV transmission in at-risk populations.
GMHC supports directing funding for prevention programs targeting
young men who have sex with men (MSM) as well as funding for prevention
and education programs for women.
Priority: To ensure the
civil rights of all people living with AIDS or HIV infection.
GMHC has long supported, in both public policy and in our service
delivery, the rights of all persons in familial relationships, traditional
or otherwise, to obtain equitable treatment and respect. We will
continue to work for the introduction and passage of domestic partnership
legislation, and legislation that ensures the civil rights
of people living with AIDS and HIV infection and their families
and caregivers.
New York has long recognized that policies protecting people with
HIV/AIDS from discrimination, ensuring confidentiality of HIV medical
information, and protecting informed consent are consistent with
good public health policy. Accordingly, we will continue to aggressively
oppose all legislation that endangers the civil rights of people
living with HIV/AIDS, mandates HIV testing, or criminalizes HIV.
GMHC will continue to advocate for passage of the Disposition
of Remains legislation, allowing terminally ill persons
to plan ahead with their loved ones.
GMHC applauds the recent passage of the Sexual Orientation
Non Discrimination Act, and will support passage of legislation
to include transgender populations.
GMHC will continue working in coalition for the passage of the
Dignity for All Students Act which would provide
for students to be free from harassment or discrimination in school
based on real or perceived notions of race, color, national origin,
ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.
GMHC will also continue to support legislation reforming the Rockefeller
Drug Laws and will monitor Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) changes, especially as they relate
to Women and HIV.
How GMHC Serves
The GMHC Hotline responds to over 35,000 phone
calls and Internet requests yearly with accurate information, emotional
support, and an expansive referral service. The A-Team provides
similar services to visitors seeking immediate face-to-face counseling.
The David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education
combines a highly successful HIV and STI testing and counseling
program with follow-up and immediate connection to care. It also
provides programs that empower clients with the knowledge to maximize
their well-being in the context of broader health concerns. These
programs focus on making treatment information and education accessible,
through an extensive treatment library, one-on-one treatment adherence
support, nutrition counseling, and complementary therapies.
Women and Family Services specializes in addressing
the full range of issues facing women and families at risk for,
or living with, HIV and AIDS. Services includes substance use counseling,
nutritional and legal workshops, support groups, crisis intervention,
a food pantry, child sitting services, and woman- and lesbian-specific
safer sex materials and education,.
The Institute for Gay Men's Health uses ground-breaking
community-specific outreach to engage gay and bisexual men within
a harm-reduction model that includes safer sex education, substance
use counseling, and community-based research that embraces HIV and
AIDS within the spectrum of men's health issues.
Early Engagement and Supportive Services offers
a full range of early engagement and linkage to services, including
adult mental health, case management, support groups and in-home
buddy services.
Care Management provides a safety net for clients
at high risk of losing essential services and resources by providing
assistance with housing, food, financial benefits, and medical care.
Other programs offer nutritious meals in a communal environment,
and social support through structured learning, job-seeking, and
recreational activities.
Legal Services and Client Advocacy provides legal
services critical to obtaining and maintaining access to food, housing,
medical care and employment. The department focuses on discrimination,
employment, bankruptcy, homelessness prevention, family law, child
placement, immigration, and access to benefits and entitlements.
Client Advocacy assists clients in navigating their HIV public benefits
and health care insurance.
Terry K Watanabe Volunteer Center trains and supports
thousands of volunteers and interns in the fight against AIDS. These
volunteers provide critical program and administrative support to
GMHC in achieving its mission.
Public Policy advocates for fair and effective
AIDS policies at all levels of government and for expanded access
to health care and services.
Treatment and Prevention Advocacy focuses the
agency's advocacy efforts on the development of new, better, and
less expensive methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of HIV and AIDS. An internationally-recognized monthly newsletter,
Treatment Issues, provides the latest medical and scientific information
to clients and medical professionals around the world.
For more information, please contact:
HOTLINE: 1-800-AIDS-NYC
(1-800-243-7692)
TTY: 212/645–7470
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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