Change the game

For the opening plenary session at the 2009 National HIV Prevention Conference, I delivered these remarks as part of a panel of HIV-positive speakers.

When I tested positive at age 24, I prayed to make it to my 40th birthday.  In 1994, that seemed like asking a lot. 

But now, three months from that milestone, I set my sights higher: I follow my passions and invite peace, laugher, and wellness into my life.

I believe prevention must be about much more than just those events we avert. 

Prevention must achieve goodness, understanding, connections.  And it must court justice and lasting change. 

With the prospect of national health reform and a National AIDS Strategy, this year could be our pivotal moment. 

Make no mistake: national health reform could quite literally transform the fight against the epidemic.  

With a more rational and equitable system, we could vastly improve the health and longevity of HIV-positive people.  Long-term reductions in deaths and fewer infections would be within our reach.

Think about it: Mitigating healthcare inequality is currently all consuming for AIDS organizations—and for most clients. 

We spend millions of service hours (yes, millions) helping clients with inadequate or non-existent coverage obtain dental care, fill prescriptions, apply for and appeal to Medicaid, find an oncologists, dermatologists, or other needed specialists, including HIV treating physicians. 

And despite the heroic acts of those who work in our sector, approximately half of all people with HIV/AIDS still lack basic healthcare.  And too many people newly diagnosed fail to receive needed education about the medical, legal, emotional, and social considerations of living with HIV.

We must also recognize that health reform could vastly improve the HIV prevention landscape with more funding for voluntary health screenings, health education, and community health programs.  Increases in the number of people treated for HIV and cured of bacterial STDs would by itself put us on a path toward reduced infections.

By providing people greater access to health services, including preventative care, the U.S. would be well poised to control the persistent HIV epidemic.

I know, you’re wondering why is this guy inserting politics into my scientific conference? 

Need I remind you? AIDS was politicized long before we ever knew what caused it. You see, people with GRID and ARC and later HIV, contended with actual death panels in the form of hospitals that wouldn’t admit us, health workers who wouldn’t touch us, and insurance companies determined to deny us care.

And these are not just horror stories from a distant past.  Still today—in 2009—our health-coverage options are severely limited and our rights are, too often, blatantly infringed.

But I’m among the lucky ones, I admit.  I have an excellent doctor and coverage I can afford.  But the truth is I’m still anxious about the future, about the premiums and co-pays that rise every year, about my partner’s situation working for a company that does not offer health benefits.

And I’m resentful that my options are severely limited.  I’ve delayed going back to school full-time because of my need for healthcare.  I wouldn’t dream of starting a business, and even future career opportunities will be colored by the need for continuous, uninterrupted, affordable coverage.

Put plainly: health reform would be a game-changing opportunity for our struggles to end the epidemic. 

Of course, it won’t solve every problem but it would ease a major obstacle that currently diverts too much attention away from other pressing priorities such as developing and deploying more effective prevention, responding to the needs of emerging and disproportionately affected populations, and mounting stronger responses to concurrent social injustices that we know fuel HIV transmission.

We must use our time together at this conference to organize for meaningful health reform. Please tell your members of Congress to seize this historic opportunity to improve our nation’s health. You might even call tomorrow morning, toll-free at 1-800-828-0498.  The number is on your screen. 

Earn your prevention stripes and do something to advance the health-reform agenda in the U.S. Millions of people living with and at risk for HIV are depending on it.

Thank you.