Earlier Access to Care for Uninsured Women Living with HIV and the ACA

Executive Summary

The Medicaid program has traditionally served as an important safety-net program for low-income women living with HIV/AIDS; however, the categorical requirements for Medicaid have excluded many individuals from coverage. The Affordable Care Act, through the Medicaid Expansion, presents the opportunity for previously ineligible low-income women living with HIV to become eligible for Medicaid. Also, states have previously used §1115 demonstration projects to provide innovative approaches to care for this community. This analysis reviews how § 1115 demonstrations can effectively be used to develop innovative models of reducing transmission, provide early treatment, and reduce long-term disabilities for WLWH who currently reside in states not expanding Medicaid eligibility.