Medicaid Matters

This spring, NCAAN worked with coalition partners to make sure that the state budget retained key provisions that enable Medicaid-qualified people living with HIV/AIDS to receive their prescribed medications without bureaucratic delays.

That was a huge victory.

Yet as this article in today's News and Observer reports, the cuts to Medicaid are far from over--and a lot is at stake for the HIV community.

That's because people living with HIV/AIDS who qualify for Medicaid depend on the program for a fuller range of medical services, including doctor's visits, hospital visits, dental care, and eye care.

Cuts to reimbursements rates make health care providers less willing to see Medicaid patients, worsening shortages of doctors who treat people living with HIV/AIDS. So would elimination of "optional" services like dental care, in a state where we already lack enough dental providers for people living with HIV/AIDS.

NCAAN will continue working with other health care advocates to limit the damage caused by the recent state budget cuts--and you can help.

Do you have a story about how Medicaid has helped you or someone you know? Share it with us here, or send it to us privately at stories@ncaan.org -- your personal experiences will help us to illustrate the tangible benefits of Medicaid and the real-world consequences of any cuts to this vital health care program.