Payment for treatment of AIDS would be made easier for those who fall above the poverty line with legislation passed by a state Senate committee Wednesday.
The Committee on Health, Utilities, Veterans and Military Affairs unanimously passed Assembly Bills 733 and 743.
“Under AB 733, the eligibility for the AIDS Drug Reimbursement Program would be expanded to persons whose annual gross household income is above 200 percent but no more than 300 percent of the federal poverty level,” Sara Buschman, committee clerk for Rep. Frank Urban, R-Brookfield, said.
“The Program helps those individuals obtain prescription drugs for the treatment of HIV infections and AIDS. Increasing the eligibility requirements will result in an additional 100 persons admitted to the program per year,” she said.
Expanding eligibility for the program will be of no cost to the state. Two-thirds of U.S. states already have eligibility criteria that include citizens with incomes of less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
A bill that would implement a statewide trauma system aiming to improve the treatment of trauma patients also passed unanimously at the committee meeting.
“[AB 743 will] provide a system of hospital classifications and will put an organized, coordinated system in place at the hospital level so trauma patients go to the right places and get the proper care right away,” Sandra Lonergan, spokesperson for Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, said. “The Bill transfers $185,000 in fiscal year 2001-02 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2002-03 of federal grant moneys from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Health and Family Services [to regional advisory trauma councils].”
While the Department of Transportation will fund the trauma system, highway safety funds will not be used for traffic-related purposes.
“By being prepared for both large and small trauma events, patients and the hospital community will be able to save more lives and save money on health-care-related costs,” Lonergan said.
The Senate Committee on Universities, Housing and Government Operations unanimously passed Assembly Bill 548 and Senate Bill 469 Wednesday. AB 548 will move the presidential primary to an earlier date.
“The bill moves the primaries up, because by the time candidates come to Wisconsin in April the outcomes of primaries are already known. The primaries are essentially decided already, so candidates don’t pay attention to our state,” Greg Reiman, spokesperson for Rep. Scott Walker, R-Wauwatosa, said.
“Moving the primaries up in Wisconsin will give us a chance to have more impact on the outcome of presidential primaries. Candidates will spend more time campaigning and advertising in Wisconsin and Wisconsin will have a greater effect on national primaries,” according to Reiman.
Senate Bill 469 regards the energy efficiency of equipment used in state building projects.
