MAP Advocate Vol. 6 No. 5

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MAP Advocate

AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 6 No. 5
March 16, 2000

In this issue:

Funding Recommended for STD Screening

The Senate will consider spending $175,000 to expand access to free STD screening. This is one of only two public health initiatives in the supplemental health and human services budget bill advanced by a Senate committee chaired by Sen. Don Samuelson (DFL-Brainerd). Advocates will need to push hard in coming weeks to secure funding, since none was included in the budget approved by the House committee chaired by Rep. Kevin Goodno (R- Moorhead).

Senate Approves Stand-by Custody

The Senate passed SF3018 introduced by Sen. Jane Ranum (DFL- Mpls), a bill that will streamline legal procedures for designating custodial guardians. This is an important tool for HIV positive parents who are trying to plan for future care of their children. The companion bill (HF3318) introduced by Rep. Steve Smith (R- Mound) has been approved by committee and is pending consideration by the full House.

Patient Protection Laws Could Get More Teeth

The full House and Senate will soon be voting on bills to toughen managed care patient protection laws. SF3156 and HF3610 introduced by Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-Mpls) and Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) take different approaches to ensuring that people with serious chronic conditions or disabilities can continue to see the same specialty care doctor if their health plan changes. The House version is preferable for people with HIV, since it proposes allowing terminally ill patients to keep the doctor for an indefinite time. This provision was added by Rep. Ron Erhardt (R- Edina) as a result of MAP lobbying efforts.

MAP Fights to Secure Health Care Access

MAP succeed in killing legislative proposals that would have made people with HIV ineligible for the MCHA (Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association) insurance (MCHA) program. MAP convinced bill authors Rep. Fran Bradley (R-Rochester) Rep. Tim Wilkin (R- Eagan) and Sen. Deanna Weiner (DFL-Eagan) to drop these provisions. In related action, MAP has thus far helped to block advancement of provisions included in HF1757 introduced by Rep. Bill Hass (R-Champlin) which would lift caps on what insurers can charge for co-payments and deductibles.

Funding Proposals for Camp Knutson Advancing

A Senate committee has recommended $1 million be included in the bonding bill for capital improvements at Camp Knutson. A similar request was rejected by House committees. Differences will be ironed out as the Senate and House bonding bills get finalized. St. Joseph's Home Care, MAP and others host Camp Benedict for individuals and families with HIV annually at the Camp Knutson facility outside of Brainerd.

Check-in on Other Legislative Action

Hearth Corporation could get up to $3 million to provide health and social services to homeless individuals in Ramsey or Blue Earth counties with substance use, mental illness or HIV health needs. *Hospitals will be required to use so-called "safe needles" to prevent bloodborne infections if the House adopts a bill already approved by the Senate.* Funds available for CD treatment could be reduced by $2.5 million over the next three years if a provision in the House health budget bill is enacted.

Take Action! Prepare for Attacks

House and Senate floor debate on big funding bills is scheduled for the weeks of March 20 and 27. This is when we typically see negative amendments. A quick response from HIV advocates is needed to fight back these attacks.

Amendments addressing the following are possible:
* Repeal minors consent.
* Restrict sex education to abstinence only until marriage.
* Restrict content of HIV prevention services targeting GLBT youth.
* Mandatory testing in hospital , prison or other occupational settings.

Keep updated on negative amendments. Visit the Action Center on the web or call 612-373-2469.

Need more info.
Check out the MAP web site.
http://www.mnaidsproject.org/

Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2007
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