Health Care Reform Bill Clears Senate, Combination with House Bill Next
LGBT Provisions Endangered in Health Care Reform Conference
Phase II Trial of Gilead’s Investigational “Quad” Regimen Meets 24-Week Objective
Housing Works Announces Merger with AIDS Treatment Data Network
Iowa State Senator Vows to Block Gay Marriage Ban
Health Care Reform Bill Clears Senate, Combination with House Bill Next
On December 24, the Senate passed its health care reform bill (HR 3590), setting the stage for negotiations to begin to combine the Senate bill with the House bill (HR 3962), according to a Wall Street Journal report on December 28.
According to a report in Congressional Quarterly, by the time the two chambers formally return to work, the House on January 12 and the Senate on January 20, the negotiating teams from each body "should be well along sorting out the biggest points of contention" in the two versions of the bill. Congress has “the option of using a formal conference process" that could last weeks, but they are more likely to "work out a deal in private, pass the agreement in one chamber and quickly send it to the other to be cleared for the president's signature."
While both Congress and the White House would prefer to have a final bill ready for President Obama’s signature in time for the State of the Union address in late January, no commitment has been made by the legislators to any timetable.
For a side-by-side comparison of the two bills, go to: http://www.getechi.com/files/HR3590%20vs%20HR3962%20comparison.doc
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LGBT Provisions Endangered in Health Care Reform Conference
According to an article in The Bay Area Reporter, certain provisions included in the U.S. House of Representatives health care reform bill that benefit LGBT people may not be included in the final bill. Major provisions include eliminating the tax penalty to gay employees who provide coverage for their spouses or partners under their employers' health insurance policies; calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to address “health disparities” suffered by various populations, including those based on “sexual orientation and gender identity”; making people with HIV and low incomes eligible for federal assistance earlier in their illness; and prohibiting discrimination based on “personal characteristics” in the delivery of health care. According to the article, many senators are predicting the final version would look more like the Senate version than the House, but it is believed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will put up at least some fight for House provisions.
For more information, go to www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4440
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Phase II Trial of Gilead’s Investigational “Quad” Regimen Meets 24-Week Objective
Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced on January 6 that a Phase II clinical trial of its investigational integrase inhibitor-based, once-daily, fixed dose “Quad” regimen of
elvitegravir, GS 9350 and Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) met its primary objective at 24 weeks for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.
The ongoing study of 71 HIV-infected, antiretroviral treatment-naĂŻve adults
compares the Quad with Atripla (efavirenz 600 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg). Based on 24-week data, efficacy of the Quad met the statistical criteria of non-inferiority as compared to Atripla (which means it met the definition of no less efficacy than Atripla) based on the proportion of subjects with HIV RNA levels (viral load) of less than 50 copies/mL, the level considered to be undetectable.
While these Phase II, 24-week results are early in the drug development process, they support further research. Full study results will be submitted for presentation at a scientific meeting in early 2010.
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Housing Works Announces Merger with AIDS Treatment Data Network
New York City’s Housing Works announced on January 6 that the AIDS Treatment Data Network (ATDN) has merged into Housing Works’ newly created Access to Care department. The merger will allow both organizations to increase their ability to reach people living with HIV and hepatitis C and push for expanded health care access for both populations.
ATDN will retain its own identity and continue providing comprehensive information on access to medical treatment for people living with HIV and hepatitis C across the United States and linking people directly to care both online and through one of two national toll-free numbers. The E-Access to Care program will also provide information about Housing Works’ comprehensive integrated health care system to New Yorkers who are living with or at risk for HIV. ATDN employees will continue their case management efforts, providing care coordination and navigation for immigrants living with HIV, as part of the Housing Works’ Care Coordination Program.
ATDN Director Ken Fornataro will oversee the E-Access to Care program and will also spearhead Housing Works’ expanded advocacy and community organizing around access to health care, including treatment. A full-time writer will be added to Fornataro’s team so that the Housing Works AIDS Issues Update and the ATDN website can provide daily news updates on treatment access issues.
“As the country grapples with health care reform, it is essential that people living with HIV and hepatitis C have a voice. Working with Ken and ATDN will not only allow us to expand our services here in the New York area, but also give us greater opportunity to participate in national health care changes,” said Housing Works President and CEO Charles King.
The two national toll-free numbers are 1-877-296-9264 and 1-800-734-7104. Both the Housingworks.org and ATDN.org websites can be used to enroll into the E-Access to Care program.
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Iowa State Senator Vows to Block Gay Marriage Ban
In an exclusive interview with The Iowa Independent, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal stated that he will block any amendments to ban same-sex marriage from coming to the floor for a vote in the upcoming legislative session.
"I will not write discrimination into the constitution of the State of Iowa," Gronstal said. "I'm going to block that at every opportunity. There will be no vote on the constitutional amendment."
Since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage this past April, Republican legislative leaders have said repeatedly that they would try to force a vote to begin the process to override the decision through a constitutional amendment.
Democrats have a commanding 32-18 edge in the Senate, making the chances of Republicans succeeding in passing a marriage ban very unlikely.
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