Medicaid Managed Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

NAPWA
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF PEOPLE
WITH AIDS
1413 KSbt, N. W,
Wasb,%wo, D.C 20005
Fbne (202) 8980414
FAX (202) 8O.435
.53
Testimony by Donald Minor
Before
The <strong>Special</strong> <strong>Committee</strong> on Aging
United States <strong>Senate</strong>
Tuesday, June 24,1997
Thank you Mr. Chairman, for the invitation to speak with you on this issue
and for the opportunity to address the special health care needs of people living
with HIV and other catastrophic disorders. My name is Donald Minor. I am a
person living with HIV and Hemophilia. I am speaking with you today on behalf
of the National Association of People with AIDS. NAPWA will submit written
testimony for the record.
NAPWA is an organization dedicated to serving as both a national
information resource and a voice for the needs and concerns of people living
with HIV throughout the United States.
As you may know HIV disease is a disorder that leads to a progressive
weakening or destruction of the immune system. Once it has crippled the
immune system the body becomes open to a host of opportunistic infections.
HIV/AIDS has remained a pandemic since the first diagnosed cases in 1981 and
remains a tremendous national crisis. While our nations's newspapers report the
marvel of new treatments and the death rate declining from this disease, let us
be warned that this crisis is not over yet.
I have met people from every state of the nation living with HIV, from
every economic status, race, gender and progression of the disease. AIDS does
not discriminate. It affects babies, children, adolescents, teenagers, young
adults, parents, grandparents, and senior citizens.
I come to you from Johnson City, TN. I was born with Hemophilia.
Hemophilia is a blood clotting disorder that affects over 20,000 individuals in the
United States. Via a contaminated factor replacement product, I contracted the
HIV virus in 1983. This was confirmed in 1985 when the first tests were
available to detect the virus.
Having Hemophilia already created a problem in getting insurance. I lost
coverage as fast as I could get it. I either maxed out the policy or it was denied
due to preexisting conditions. I managed to be placed on a catastrophic
insurance pool with high premiums and many limiting conditions. Soon after I
was diagnosed HIV positive, I lost my job. I applied for disability, but the judge
denied it due to my education. He stated, I could still find a job. From there the
nightmare started. No job, no prospects, no disability and low self-esteem.
That's when I got mad and fought back. I became involved in my own advocacy
and became a willing person to speak for others. It has been a long hard road
to this day.