NCJ Number
246714
Journal
Health Affairs Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 428-433
Date Published
March 2014
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article explores the benefits provided by the Affordable Care Act for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Abstract
The passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has the potential to provide medical coverage for persons living with HIV/AIDS. This article explores the benefits provided to this group by the ACA and discusses the need for the right policy choices to be made in order to ensure coverage and comprehensive care for persons living with HIV/AIDS. The article first discusses how scientific breakthroughs have shifted the focus on combatting HIV/AIDS from one of treatment to one of prevention. As noted in the article, the economic value of preventing the spread of the disease far outweighs the costs of testing and treating those exposed to HIV/AIDS. In order to continue this progress, certain policy decisions need to be made. These decisions involve access and adherence to early treatment, effective case management and provision of supplemental services, and continued implementation of established systems of HIV care delivery. Issues that need to be addressed when making policy decisions include patients' copayments and other out-of-pocket costs, maintaining stability in care, and improved flexibility for patients to have access to physicians with experience in treating people with HIV/AIDS. 1 exhibit and 44 references