Date:         Mon, 18 Sep 1995 08:51:31 -0400
From: Mary Ann Murphy <mamurphy@igc.apc.org>
Subject:      CA AB590

Following is this month's sample letter on HIV/AIDS issue.
It is for Governor Pete Wilson fax (916)445-4633.  I could not find an
email address for him if anyone knows it - please let me know

If you do send a letter, make a phone call or send an E-mail message on this
issue please let us know. We need to know whether our efforts are effective.

                                                         September 15, 1995



The Hon. Pete Wilson, Governor
The California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Wilson:

I strongly urge you to sign A. B. 590 (Knox) which is now on your
desk or will be shortly. This bill would require Medi-Cal to
cover bottled water and certain filters as benefits upon findings
of Cryptosporidium in treated water.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite which causes severe intestinal
illness that can lead to death when it infects people with
compromised immune systems, such as those living with AIDS, or
cancer patients on chemotherapy. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an
estimated 400,000 people became ill and 100 people living with
AIDS died after exposure to Cryptosporidium in 1993. Once
infected, there are no treatments to remove the parasite from the
body. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power recently
advised the immunocompromised to boil all tap water before
drinking. However, the process of boiling water could be
impossible for those who are bed ridden and dangerous for people
who are frail.

A.B. 590 will only take affect after a water department has
determined that all tap water should be boiled prior to drinking
due to a health risk associated with Cryptosporidium. Thus it is
a preventative measure. If implemented, it is estimated that it
would cost $10 per month, per person. This cost is minimal when
compared to the potential long term costs to Medi-Cal from
hospitalization, medication and home health care that might
otherwise become necessary.

Thank you for considering this issue. Again, I strongly urge you
to sign A.B. 590 which is now on your desk or will be shortly.

Very truly yours,