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MAP Advocate
HIV Advocacy Update
March 28, 2005
Vol. 11. No. 8
Take Action! Urge Senate Health Committee to Pass Bill Changing HIV Insurance/Drug Program
It's crunch time at the State Capitol. The first committee deadline is Tuesday, April 5. Bills that have not been approved by committees are dead for the session. The best shot at getting changes made to Minnesota's crippled HIV Insurance/Drug Program, a.k.a. Program HH or ADAP, is to win the approval of the Senate Health and Family Security Committee. Contact committee members now. Right now! Because in this hectic rush to meet the April 5 deadline, the bill could come up for a vote as early as this Wednesday night, March 30. Visit the MAP Bill Tracker for contact information.
In This Issue:
The HIV Prevention and Health Care Access Program bill (SF1836 and HF1892) has been introduced in the House and the Senate. This bill proposes uninterrupted access to HIV treatment without cost shares for low-income persons living with HIV. The bill also proposes full funding for the state's Program HH. The lead authors are Sen. John Hottinger [DFL St. Peter] and Rep. Paul Thissen [DFL Minneapolis]. The HIV Prevention and Health Care Access Program bill will be heard in the Senate Health Committee on either Monday, April 4 or Tuesday April 5. Encouraging Senate health committee members to support the bill is an immediate priority [see Take Action! above]. Promoting broad legislative support will be the focus for MAP's AIDS Action Day on April 12. Read a copy of the bill .
MAP Video Explores Need for Program HH Fix
On April 5, MAP will release "Who Gets Health Care? HIV and Health Care for All," a video exploring the impact of recent changes to the state Program HH and the need to revive Minnesota's commitment to providing access to health care for all. The video will initially be available to those who register for AIDS Action Day to help them prepare for their April 12 meetings with legislators.
Rep. Tim Wilkin [R-Eagan] has, once again, introduced a bill to repeal the minors' consent law that guarantees minors confidential health care for emergency medical care, contraception, pregnancy related care, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, inpatient mental health services, and treatment for drug and alcohol use. HF 1921 was quickly scheduled for a hearing this Tuesday, March 29. No companion bill has yet been introduced in the Senate. In past years, the House has approved gutting the minors' consent law, effectively closing the exam room door for many teens. The Senate has rejected various attempts to weaken minors' consent protections, though by very narrow margins. It is very possible this 30 year-old law protecting teen health could be repealed. Teens, their parents, their health care providers and all concerned about youth health need to help make more noise to resist these changes. A phone call to your state rep and senator to "oppose any change to the minors' consent law" is a good place to start. Visit the Sex Ed for Life Web site for more info.
Is Special Initiative to Increase HIV Prevention in African Communities Stalled?
21 percent of new HIV infections in Minnesota are among African born residents. It's clear the global epidemic is Minnesota's epidemic. Bills requesting a special, one-time appropriation to promote general awareness about HIV within African communities have yet to be scheduled for hearings in either Senate or House health committees. With the April 5, "first committee deadline" looming, there is a risk that this bill will be stalled for the session. SF968 and HF1373 were introduced by Sen. Scott Dibble [DFL Mpls] and Rep. Karen Clark [DFL Mpls]. Either the House health committee chaired by Rep. Fran Bradley [R Rochester] or the Senate health committee chaired by Sen. Becky Lourey [DFL Kerrick] need to schedule a hearing, and one of their committees would need to approve the bill this week if the prospect for special funding is to stay alive.
Senate Hearing on Comp Sex Ed Bill Set for this Thursday
The Senate education committee will hear SF878 and SF1262 introduced by Sen. Sandy Pappas [DFL St. Paul] and Sen. Bob Kierlin [R Winona]. The hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, March 31 at 3 p.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol. Read the MAP Issues and Bill Tracker for information about contacting committee members. On the House side, HF1071 could yet show up on a House education committee hearing agenda this week or this weekend in order to beat the clock on the April 5 committee hearing deadline. This bill was introduced by Rep. Sondra Erickson [R Princeton], an abstinence-until-marriage sex ed proponent and it adds the ridiculous requirement that education about HIV and STD prevention be paired with information about criminal sexual conduct. This bill is one to keep an eye on, as it's a prime candidate for an abstinence-only sex ed amendment.
"Camp Out for Comp Sex Ed" on April 27
Join us at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 27 from 5-9pm at the "Camp
Out for Comp Sex Ed". Come the end of April, Minnesota's legislators will
be hunkering down for about two weeks of long, grueling floor sessions
to hammer out the details of the big "omnibus" budget bills. As the nights
get long, the lobby outside of the chambers where legislators are doing
their work clearS out. We think this is a perfect time to "Camp Out for
Comp Sex Ed". Yup, we'd like to bring teens, their parents, educators,
and folks who value medically accurate, comprehensive sexual health education
together to call upon their legislators to support comp sex ed in schools
and minors rights to consent to health care. Watch upcoming MAP Advocates
for more info, or contact us at publicpolicy@mnaidsproject.org
. "Camp Out for Comp Sex Ed" is being coordinated in partnership with
Sex Ed for Life and our friends at MOAPPP [Minnesota Organization on Adolescent
Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting].
U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad to Hold Town Hall Meetings on Proposed Medicaid Cuts
This Monday and Tuesday, March 28 and 29, Rep. Jim Ramstad [R MN 3rd
District] will hold four town hall meetings in the Twin Cities. He is
looking for feedback on the proposed Medicaid budget cuts and of block
grants. The proposed budget cuts would gut Medicaid by $14 billion in
the next five years. Let Rep. Ramstad know that cutting Medicaid funding
will have a devastating effect on people living with HIV in Minnesota. The
town hall meetings will take place at the following locations:
March 28-Plymouth, 7-8pm, Plymouth Creek Center-Plymouth Room
March 29-Brooklyn Center, Noon-1pm, City Council Chambers
March 29-Eden Prairie, 7-8pm, City Hall Council Chambers
Senate Approves $800 million for 2006 Funding to Fight the Global AIDS Pandemic
The Senate approved [51-49] $800 million in funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Bush Administration originally proposed funding the Global Fund at $300 million, the Senate increased that proposal by $500 million. If the House approves the increase it could effectively challenge the rest of the world to increase their contributions to the Global Fund.
What happens when there's a pile-up of bills that need to be heard in committee so they don't 'die' before the April 5th deadline? Well, committee chairs rush to meet the deadline by holding extra meetings, meetings well into the night, and meetings over the weekend. That's when constituents who are busy with jobs and families during the day may find last-minute opportunities to sit in on hearings. This week the House hearing on minors' consent laws will be heard at or after 7 pm on Tuesday night in room 10 in the State Office Building. There's a possibility that MAP legislation to ensure low-income people living with HIV can access treatment without cost shares will be heard on Wednesday night in the Senate. Who knows, there may even be some hearings scheduled for this weekend. These are great opportunities to see many of the legislators in action as they ask questions of the testifiers and determine what bills will go forward and what compromises need to be made. If you have never sat in on a hearing, we urge you to do so.
Join 10,000 Minnesotans at the Minnesota AIDS Walk on Sunday May 15 to show your support for the fight against AIDS and raise funds for the Minnesota AIDS Project. The Minnesota AIDS Project receives no government or pharmaceutical company funding for its public policy work. The money raised at the Minnesota AIDS Walk makes it possible for MAP to lead the fight for smart and effective policies at the State Capitol. Register to raise funds for this year's Walk. Click here to get all of the details and set-up your own on-line campaign to collect pledges .
MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It is available through the MAP Web site and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.
MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
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