Supporting a NYS Plan to End AIDS

I recently spearheaded a letter to Governor Cuomo, signed by 19 of my Senate colleagues, supporting a New York State Plan to End AIDS. We called for an additional $10 million appropriation for the New York State AIDS Institute and the appointment of a gubernatorial task force to develop a long-term strategy for ending the AIDS epidemic in our state. Although there is still no cure for AIDS, scientific advances and widespread health care coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act have put an end to the epidemic within reach. Please see our letter below.
 
I’m pleased that on March 19, New York State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah announced the state has achieved a major step toward implementing such a plan by successfully negotiating with Gilead, the leading maker of antiretroviral drugs for HIV, to obtain substantial price concessions. This will make it possible to greatly expand the number of HIV-positive New Yorkers successfully being treated, and broaden access to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent new infections. Please see below a letter I sent to Gilead’s Chairman and CEO last month urging the company to meet the price reductions sought by the state.