New Medicare Drug Benefit Affects People with HIV/AIDS

In the United States today, 60,000 to 80,000 people with HIV/AIDS receive health care from the Medicare program. Until now, Medicare has not paid for prescription drugs, and many of California's Medicare clients with HIV/AIDS have relied on other government programs, such as Medi-Cal (known as Medicaid nationally) and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), for their medications. Starting January 1, 2006, Medicare's new Prescription Drug Benefit--known as Medicare Part D--goes into effect, and Medicare beneficiaries will experience many changes in the way they obtain their medications.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation and our partner Project Inform have taken the lead to analyze Medicare Part D in order to educate the Bay Area's Medicare clients with HIV/AIDS and their service providers about the complexities of this new benefit. It is important for all Medicare clients to learn about Part D and take steps now to assure uninterrupted access to HIV medications after January 1, 2006. Because this program is complicated and interacts with Medi-Cal and ADAP in complex ways, individuals who are affected are urged to contact a case manager, care provider, or a financial benefits counselor at SFAF, or call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227).

A set of brochures and other detailed information about Part D is available on the SFAF website at www.sfaf.org/policy/medicare. You can also receive these materials by calling 415-487-8000 or by visiting our Client Services Department at One Sixth Street (at Market Street) in San Francisco.