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A total of 1,004 people with HIV/AIDS are on waiting lists to receive treatment through state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, according to the latest survey by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. Ten states have enacted waiting lists, an increase from the nine state ADAPs with 929 people on waiting lists as of April 22, 2010, according to NASTAD's annual 2010 report.Other cost containment strategies reported by ADAPs include narrowing financial eligibility criteria and removing drugs from the formulary.
State funding of ADAP budgets in fiscal year 2009 plummeted 34 percent from FY08, though total funding for ADAP grew about 5 percent, or $70 million, to $1.59 billion in FY09. Total enrollment for ADAPs grew between June 2008 and June 2009 by 17,507 clients - the largest jump since data collection began in 2003.
"ADAPs are currently in the eye of the 'perfect storm': minimal increases in federal appropriations, significant state budget cuts, increased program demand due to unemployment, heightened national efforts on HIV testing and linkages to care, and new HIV treatment guidelines calling for earlier therapeutic treatments," the annual report said. NASTAD said it will convene a task force to negotiate with AIDS drug manufacturers for more discounts and rebates.
In NASTAD's latest update, ADAPs with waiting lists as of May 13, 2010, were:
*North Carolina: 530 people
*Kentucky: 106 people
*Utah: 97 people
*South Carolina: 92 people
*Iowa: 80 people
*South Dakota: 30 people
*Idaho: 29 people
*Montana: 18 people
*Wyoming: 17 people
*Hawaii: 5 people
For the complete 2010 "National ADAP Monitoring Project Annual Report," visit http://www.nastad.org/Docs/Public/InFocus/201053_2010%20National%20ADAP%20Monitoring%20Project%20Annual%20Report.pdf.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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