MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 8 No. 5
March 26, 2002
In this issue:
Join us for the 15th annual Minnesota AIDS Walk, May 19, 2002 Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis
MAP's public policy program and advocacy efforts depend on individual contributions, such as those raised at the AIDS Walk. Join us for this year's Walk and help ensure that HIV advocacy, prevention and care will be available in the future.
To register or make a contribution, go online to www.minnesotaaidswalk.org or call 612-373-2411 tty 612-373-2465.
The Emergency Health Powers bill is heading to conference committee with big differences between House and Senate versions. The House approved its bill after adding a MAP-proposed amendment attempting to limit the circumstances under which a bioterrorism-related health emergency could be declared.
However, the bill continues to prescribe quarantine and isolation procedures that the commissioner of health could impose at any time-with or without a declared health emergency. The Senate bill emphasizes convening a group to work with the commissioner to develop proposals for the legislature to consider next year. While supporting expanded authority to respond to bioterrorism attacks, MAP has opposed broader expansion of health powers.
Wanting to avoid contentious, election year debates over education policies and funding, lawmakers have simply not scheduled education bills for consideration in the House or Senate.
This has silenced the debate over comprehensive sex education, at least for the time-being. However, MAP and its Sex Ed for Life partners continue to be watchful for end-of-session, political shenanigans.
You've heard about all the reserve funds being cleaned out to close the state's budget gap. Well, one was created through accumulation of rebates paid by HIV drug manufacturers.
With the dramatic growth in federal AIDS drug funding through the past few years, the state has not needed to draw upon the rebate fund to buy AIDS drugs. Now the dollars will be used to minimize cuts in the drug reimbursement program serving people with other illnesses and seniors. They'll also be used to set up a volunteer dental care network, which MAP is pushing to focus on people who experience barriers to care due to low income or health status.
MAP is also asking that the program address ongoing issues of discrimination against people with HIV within the dental profession.
The Bush administration's newly issued medical privacy regulations contain many provisions that are disturbing to health care advocates. The biggest concern advocates have is with the proposal to eliminate the requirement that patients give their consent prior to a disclosure of their health information.
Stay tuned for more information on the new regulations and how you can get involved.
MAP community affairs is already planning activities for this summer and fall. We are once again looking or communities to host Lunch Out Loud in their hometowns, bringing people living with and affected by HIV together with policymakers to commemorate World AIDS Day and discuss the day-to-day realities of living with this disease.
This year, we hope to expand the program to include civic and business leaders in the discussion. Advocacy trainings will be offered around the state to help Lunch Out Loud participants prepare for the event and learn more about how to raise awareness about HIV.
If you are interested in hosting Lunch Out Loud or involving your community in a regional training, give us a call at 612-341-2060 or statewide 800-243-7321.
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Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
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