Illinois house
votes funds for HIV patients

The Illinois house on Wednesday voted 111-1 on a bill that would help pay Medicare's out-of-pocket costs for low-income HIV patients through the state's Illinois Cares Rx program. The bill would result in a 63% savings for anti-HIV medications by helping Medicare-eligible clients access antiretroviral drugs through the Illinois Cares Rx program instead of enrolling them in the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The move is designed to ease financial pressures on the Illinois ADAP by relying as much on the federal Medicare program as possible. The bill now moves to committee in the state senate. (Advocate.com)