 AIDS LIFE Campaign (ALC)
The AIDS LIFE (Legislative Initiative and Funding Effort) Campaign - a program of the CT AIDS Resource Coalition - is Connecticut's only statewide group that focuses solely on all of the policy-related issues impacting people living with and at high risk for HIV/AIDS - from prevention and education, including needle exchange; to supportive services; to health care, such as Medicaid and CADAP; to housing.
In addition to our advocacy work at the legislature, members of the AIDS LIFE Campaign convene meetings with key state departments such as the Department of Public Health and the Department of Social Services to work with them on a whole host of issues ranging from contracts and timely payments, CADAP, Medicaid changes (e.g. prescription and provider visit co-pays), as well as federal issues such as the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) housing program, Ryan White funds, and other pertinent topics that arise.
SSA Evaluation of HIV Infection
Please read the following information about the Social Security Administration possibly making changes to its listing for evaluating HIV infection. Here are links for the accompanying documentation to give you more information about the issue: SSA Immune System Criteria Final Rule
SSA Proposed Rulemaking re: HIV Infection
SSA HIV Listings-Comment Letter for Sign-on
The Social Security Administration is requesting comments and suggestions about possible revisions to its listings for evaluating HIV infection (listings 14.08 and 114.08). The due date for comments is May 19, 2008. See above link for a comment letter, for which sign-ons are being solicited. The due date for signing on is close of business on Friday, May 16, 2008.
The comment letter was drafted by a working group composed of representatives of several organizations with expertise in HIV treatment and representation of HIV-positive claimants. We hope that you will choose to sign on to these comments, to lend your organization's voice to the points made here. If you choose to sign on, please send an email to Bebe Anderson banderson@lambdalegal.org, with the following information, for inclusion in the signature area: (1) name, (1) title, (3) organization, and (4) address. You must respond by close of business Friday, May 16, 2008, in order to be included as a signatory.
The comment letter makes the following main points:
--Acknowledges that some of the comments made in September 2006 are reflected in the Final Rule published on March 18, 2008 (which goes into effect n June 16, 2008).
--Reiterates comments that were not reflected (or were inadequately addressed) in the Final Rule and which don't relate to Listings 14.08 and 114.08 - including consideration of subjective evidence and consideration of claimants who are non-responsive to treatment - and asks that SSA address those issues through written guidance and training provided to SSA disability examiners and adjudicators.
--Provides suggestions for specific changes to listings to reflect current understanding of appropriate objective and subjective indicators of those impairments. In particular, the comments discuss the need to reference co-infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C in the Listings (Sections 14.08(D) & 114.08(D)) and to accept subjective evidence related to diarrhea (Sections 14.08(I) & 114.08(I)).
--Requests that chronic pancreatitis be added as a "stand-along" listing.
--Requests that additional, specified manifestations be referenced in Sections 14.08(K) & 114.08 (L) (the former 14.08(N) & 114.08(N)). In particular, the comments discuss the need for references to morphological abnormalities, metabolic abnormalities, infarction and cardiac problems, and impaired mental functioning.
In addition to the comment letter, see above links for copies of the Final Rule, scheduled to go into effect June 16 and the SSA's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. |
