| Despite prevention efforts in the United States, the number of persons with HIV/AIDS continues to rise. The costs associated with treating persons with HIV/AIDS has skyrocketed. It is estimated that 53% of all persons with HIV and 62% of all persons with AIDS are covered by Medicaid (Buchanan, 1996). Further, it is believed that Medicaid spends more than 9.99 billion dollars per year on care for persons with AIDS (Bartnyska, Schactman & Hidalgo, 1995). As a result of Medicaid spending, state governments are looking to reform Medicaid to reduce state expenditures.;HIV/AIDS advocacy groups are interest groups seeking to ensure that when states reform Medicaid, persons with HIV/AIDS will receive high quality care. The power of these groups lie in their ability to achieve their goal (i.e. positively affect Medicaid reform policies for persons with HIV/AIDS). In an attempt to positively affect the polity, these groups will employ the advocacy/interest group strategies of direct lobbying; mounting grassroots campaigns; making financial contributions through PAC; and taking legal action. The purpose of this research is to explore whether HIV/AIDS agencies are employing the above mentioned strategies. Further, this research hopes to identify which types of groups are most successful at employing the advocacy/interest group strategies when seeking to positively affect Medicaid reform policies for persons with HIV/AIDS. |
