Panel Backs Bill Granting Women More AIDS Care

WASHINGTON — Charging the Social Security Administration with failing to provide adequate disability coverage for women suffering from AIDS, a congressional subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday that would revise the medical criteria under which the agency determines eligibility for payments.

At issue is a proposed Social Security regulation that would expand disability coverage for AIDS patients. It is based on a definition of AIDS by the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Proponents acknowledged that the bill--which now goes to the full House Ways and Means Committee--is unlikely to be enacted into law. But they said it would help draw attention to the issue.

Advocates of the legislation say the revised list of symptoms an AIDS victim would have to exhibit to qualify for payments are those most often experienced only by gay men. Diseases common to female AIDS-sufferers, including the most serious form of cervical cancer, treatment-resistant syphilis and recurring pelvic inflammatory disease--are not included.

The legislation, supported by such groups as the American Medical Assn. and the Physicians Assn. for AIDS Care, would expand the list. It also would permit AIDS victims to collect payments if they suffered from one, rather than the currently proposed two, “disabling impairments” resulting from AIDS.