The 2013 U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA) came to a close yesterday with a plenary session on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a much discussed topic throughout the four-day conference. Among the observations shared by a diverse panel were:
The healthcare law extends important civil rights protections that can be helpful in addressing the continuing stigma and denials of care in health settings experienced by some people living with HIV (PLWH) across the nation, noted Deborah Reid, JD, Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program (NHeLP).
Ms. Reid highlighted that Section 1557 of the law prohibits discrimination on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and stereotype), age, and disability to any health program/activity receiving federal financial assistance. This includes, she noted, Medicaid, the newly created Health Insurance Marketplaces, and many other federally–supported programs.
PLWH have a vital role to play in ensuring that the potential of the Affordable Care Act is realized for all PLWH, suggested Moisés Agosto, Director of Treatment Education, Adherence and Mobilization at the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), which hosted the conference. First, Mr. Agosto observed, PLWH who attended the conference and who are knowledgeable about the new health care law have an important role in informing and engaging other PLWH about the opportunities for access to better health coverage that will soon be available. In addition, he encouraged PLWH to not just help their peers get connected to coverage, but also linked to care, and then supported in ongoing care.
The Affordable Care Act will improve health care opportunities for millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, according to Dr. Matt Heinz, from the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He highlighted, in particular, the importance of the health care law for low-income LGBT individuals, particularly since more than 34 percent of them currently lack health coverage. Concerned that too few of them still know little about the Act and what will be soon be available to them, Dr. Heinz urged the participants to help educate members of the LGBT community about both the availability of coverage through the Marketplace as well as the provisions of the healthcare law that prohibit discrimination against LGBT populations and to engage in efforts to connect uninsured members of the community to coverage in the coming months.
