by Bob Roehr
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) has been a goal of AIDS advocates from as far back as the Clinton administration. It would expand Medicaid coverage to allow for treatment of HIV before it develops into full blown AIDS.
ETHA was reintroduced in the Senate on March 13 by a bipartisan group led by Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York). It would allow states to extend coverage to low income persons who are HIV positive, without waiting for the disability diagnosis of AIDS, and provide enhanced federal matching funds for that activity.
Medicaid already allows similar coverage for individuals with breast and cervical cancer.
"I believe it is our moral responsibility to do everything we can to ensure that all people living with HIV–regardless of their income or their insurance status–have access to timely, effective treatment," Smith said in introducing the measure.
"By helping those with HIV get the care they need, we can redue the need for more expensive care in the long term," said Clinton.
The pair offered ETHA as an amendment to the 2008 fiscal year budget resolution on March 21. Committee chairman Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota) agreed to accept it, which meant that there was no need for discussion or a vote on the floor of the Senate.
But on March 23, when Conrad listed the amendments that were accepted and the resolution passed the Senate, ETHA was not among them. Smith is seeking clarification. It is unclear what can be done at this point.
