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Payment For AZT

A Top Priority

Declaring that "bankruptcy should not be the price for prolonged life," the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is pressing Congress to make an emergency appropriation to pay for AZT for those persons not covered by third party payment plans. "Achieving federal funding for AZT treatments will be a major priority of the Task Force in the months ahead," stated Jeff Levi, NGLTF's Executive Director.

The recently licensed drug AZT, marketed as Retrovir, is estimated to cost $7-10,000 per year. It is the first drug licensed to treat AIDS and severe ARC. Some 5,000 persons with AIDS were receiving the drug free of charge prior to licensing; they must now pay for the treatment as well.

Levi said that it is "unethical to withhold treatment from individuals who have been receiving a life-prolonging drug and outrageous that people whose lives could be prolonged will die prematurely because they cannot afford a drug. We must not wait for the first person to die unnecessarily before taking steps to assure that those who cannot afford AZT are provided funds by the federal government to pay for treatment."

The Task Force has called on Congress to add emergency funds in the current fiscal year (1987) and include monies in the up-

(Kansas City), Nashville Cares, Central Valley AIDS Team (Fresno), Topeka AIDS Project, WWC AIDS Program (Washington, DC), PWA Coalition (New York City), Being Alive (West Hollywood), PWA Coalition (Dallas), Minority Task Force on AIDS (New York City), and Community Relief for PWA's (New Orleans).

Stamp Out AIDS also announced that through their special arrangement with participating organizations, they have given immediate funding of over $5,000 to twelve service providing groups.

Stamp Out AIDS is the only national organization which directly helps the thousands of men, women, and children living with AIDS. None of the money raised through the sale of stamps goes towared research, education, or ASO administrative costs.

Stamps sell in sheets of 6 for $1 and are obtainable by writing: Stamp Out AIDS, 240 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Project Director Glines said: "We anticipate our contribution for 1987 to be almost half a million dollars. That's not a lot, considering the panepidemic proportions of the disease, but we have to do something, and Stamp Out AIDS is one way that everyone can help."

coming fiscal 1988 budget to create a special PWA Commemorative

fund for new treatments for AIDS. Because of the progress that has already been made on the supplemental appropriation for fiscal 1987, this addition will probably be made on the floor of the Senate or House. The Task Force therefore urges all interested persons to write to their Representatives and Senators in Washington to support such funding. Estimates are that up to $30 million will be needed in fiscal 1987 and $60 million to pay for treatment of those on AZT not covered by private health insurance or Medicaid.

There are two compelling arguments to be made to Congress, Levi said. "The first is a moral one we cannot allow people to die prematurely when there is a licensed treatment. The second is financial-by paying for AZT for those affected individuals, the government will actually be saving money by keeping them off Medicaid and other forms of public assistance when they would have to pay for both the drug therapies and all their other medical costs."

'Stamp Out AIDS' Announces Grants

Stamp Out AIDS, the national campaign to help people with AIDS through the sale of stamps similar to Easter and Christmas seals, has announced grants totalling $18,000 to AIDS service organizations throughout the country. At a luncheon sponsored by the National AIDS Network as part of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Conference in Los Angeles, Stamp Out AIDS project director John Glines read a list of grant recipients.

The grant recipients were: AIDS Foundation of Houston, Arizona Stop AIDS Project, Billings AIDS Support Network, Aliveness Project (Minneapolis), Kupona (Chicago), National Association of People with AIDS (Washington, DC), AIDS Resource Center (New York City), Chicago House and Social Service Agency, Good Samaritan Project

Bracelet Announced

The Mother Cares Foundation, a nonprofit corporation which provides promotional and fund-raising assistance to AIDS organizations across the country, has announced plans to sponsor a commemorative bracelet which bears the name, age, and date of passing of individuals struck down by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

According to Mark Manning, National Campaign Director of Mother Cares, the specially designed bracelet will be offered to the public through AIDS organizations throughout the nation who will benefit from donational proceeds. Says Manning, "This 'PWA' (Persons With AIDS) bracelet will not only symbolize our national family's unity and commitment in the battle against AIDS while clearly illustrating the devastating effect this vicious disease is having on our nation and the world, but provide crucial funding to worthy AIDS services which distribute the PWA bracelet to their community."

Manning, who is engaged by Mother Cares to direct their national campaign for AIDS awareness and education, has hired the cocreator of the original POW/MIA bracelets, to coordinate the PWA Bracelet project. Stephen R. Frank, who produced almost 6 million metal wristbands bearing the names of prisoners of war and those missing in action, will supervise the nationwide memorial/fundraising project whose goal is to provide 100,000 bracelets before the end of the year.

According to Manning, who conceived the bracelet program to help grassroots AIDS groups across the country, the $10.00 gold or silver bracelets will bear authorized names provided by the Mothers Of AIDS Persons, who are affiliated with the project. "Additionally," Manning stated, "individuals may sponsor a PWA of their own choosing."

Program Supervisor, Steve Frank, indicated that the first bracelets issued will be presented to members of Mothers Of AIDS