In an effort to better inform Medicaid--eligible pregnant women and prenatal health care providers about the benefits of HIV counseling, testing, and AZT therapy, the Health Care Financing Adminstration (HCFA) Maternal AIDS Initiative focuses on pregnancy and HIV.

HCFA's Maternal AIDS Initiative objective is make consumers and health care providers aware of the need for HIV counseling and testing among women who are thinking about becoming pregnant or who are pregnant. Women testing positive for HIV can pass the virus to their infant. The Maternal AIDS Initiative can advise consumers on HIV testing, how to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV to infants, and discuss special coverage offered under the Medicaid program.

The goal of HCFA's Maternal AIDS Initiative, which started in 1994, is to alert Medicaid-eligible, HIV-infected women, pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age to the benefits and implications of AZT therapy, and to assist them, in conjunction with their health care providers in making an informed decision about undergoing AZT therapy. The initiative, originally piloted in four States, has been recently expanded to include 18 sites (States, cities or counties) and all of HCFA's ten regional offices.

For more information about the Maternal AIDS Initiative, contact the HCFA's Regional Office AIDS Coordinator closest to you.

Region 1 - Boston
Maureen Farley: 617-565-1248
Paul Miller: 617-565-1335

Region 2 - New York
Steve Shaw: 212-264-2775 x225

Region 3 - Philadelphia
Theresa Rubin: 215-596-1300

Region 4 - Atlanta
Michael McDaniel: 404-730-2733 Mal Williams: 404-331-5889

Region 5 - Chicago
Sina Mercado: 312-353-0390

Region 6 - Dallas
Bill Brooks: 214-767-4461

Region 7 - Kansas City
James Scott: 816-426-3406

Region 8 - Denver
Laurie Konsella: 303-844-6216 x381

Region 9 - San Francisco
Bruce Campbell: 415-744-3588 Maureen Calacal: 415-744-3589

Region 10 - Seattle
Liz Trias: 206-615-2400

For information on Medicaid coverage offered to HIV positive pregnant women, contact:

Randy Graydon
Co-Director, Office of Beneficiary Services
HCFA's Medicaid Bureau
410-786-1357