Schatz B; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 824 (abstract no. T.E.O.14).

National Gay Rights Advocates, San Francisco, California, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether seven medications are covered by U.S. state medical assistance (medicaid) programs for people with HIV infection, and to analyze policy consistency among differing states. METHOD: Survey of medicaid agencies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. RESULTS: State medicaid agencies have broad discretion to determine which drugs they will provide; thus, levels of coverage for HIV+ people vary widely by location. Differing practices exist regarding coverage of specific drugs, need for prior authorization, reliance on physician recommendation, and willingness to provide medication to asymptomatic HIV+ person. 90% of states routinely fund AZT for persons with AIDS; 74% for asymptomatic HIV+ persons. 65% routinely fund aerosolized pentamidine for persons with previous pneumocystis; 49% for HIV+ persons with no previous pneumocystis. Most but not all states (73%) fund all federally licensed drugs in survey (AZT, acyclovir, septra, dapsone, and fansidar) if physician prescribes for persons with AIDS; only 25% cover unlicensed drug (ganciclovir). 29% indicate that certain drugs available to persons with AIDS are not available to asymptomatic HIV+ persons. CONCLUSION: Standards governing availability of drugs to HIV-infected individuals under U.S. medical assistance (medicaid) programs vary dramatically from state to state. National coordination would increase consistency and fairness.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Medicaid
• Medical Assistance
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• State Government
• United States
• Washington
• Zidovudine
• economics

Other ID:

• 00434489

UI: 102180243

From Meeting Abstracts