A measure that will help many low-income, HIV-positive Illinois residents afford drug benefits passed the State Senate on Monday, March 27, completing a sweep of the General Assembly.
House Bill 4302, sponsored by State Representative Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, and State Senator Carol Ronen, D-Chicago, passed the Senate 49-0. On Feb. 1, it passed the House by a vote of 111 to 1.
The bill essentially expands the Illinois Cares Rx program to cover HIV medications for people who are eligible for the new Medicare prescription drug program but cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs.
According to a statement issued by AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) , under an expanded Illinois Cares Rx program, the state would spend 63 percent less per Medicare-eligible client than it would spend through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program ( ADAP ) . By shifting costs from ADAP to Illinois Cares Rx, the state will reduce its future outlays for AIDS care by more than $1.5 million a year.
The statement also reveals that ADAP spends $12,200 per year to provide HIV drugs for each client. An estimated 195 ADAP clients with annual incomes between $13,000 to $19,000 were eligible for both ADAP and Medicare, but cannot afford Medicare's out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, leaving them to rely solely on ADAP.
AFC contends that the bill helps to maximize federal benefits for people with HIV while continuing the state's commitment to healthcare expansion.
John Peller, AFC's director of state affairs, was understandably elated that the measure passed. 'We worked very hard with the bill's sponsors and the Illinois Department of Public Health [ among others ] ,' he told Windy City Times. 'The legislation will help keep the ADAP program strong and help people afford prescription drug coverage.'
According to the Illinois General Assembly Web site, the measure becomes 'effective immediately' after the governor signs it into law.
