Conference organizers had to turn people away at the door of two workshops on health care reform and HIV. From the turnouts at these sessions and the comments from presenters and audience members alike, it is clear that providers of HIV care and treatment are concerned about how to maintain the systems of HIV care built over the past twenty-five years as the nation implements health care reform and are looking for information and ideas. As Christine Rivera, Director of HIV Uninsured Care Programs for New York State and one of the workshop panelists, stated, “Health care reform provides a framework for access to care, but does not guarantee it.”
The dialogue about the intersection of health care reform and Ryan White will continue at CAEAR Coalition’s town hall meeting on Wednesday evening. The event will feature a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Panelists will include representatives from AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families, CAEAR Coalition, HIVMA, and NASTAD, as well as Arent Fox.
