Advocates Decry New Jersey Changes in AIDS, HIV Assistance

AIDS advocates say a new income cap for the state AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will force patients to choose between buying their medicines and paying other bills, unless they quit work in order to qualify under the new limit.

The income cap goes into effect Aug. 1 and is expected to save the state roughly $7.4 million. Previously, a person earning less than $54,150 was ADAP-eligible. Next month, allowable income drops to $32,490, disqualifying 967 of the 7,645 people enrolled at the end of 2009. Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) spokesperson Dawn Thomas said the change puts New Jersey's income limit on par with those in 25 other states.

However, the budget signed by Gov. Chris Christie last month increased appropriations for ADAP more than 75 percent, from $9.8 million to $17.2 million. The decision to limit access to ADAP even as its budget rises is "going to be very difficult, politically, to explain," said Beth Crutsinger-Perry, an associate director with the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.

DHSS officials say the tighter enrollment criteria anticipate higher drug costs and 200-300 new low-income applicants next year.

Limiting ADAP access via income eligibility is the last cost-saving measure a senior official at the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation would have recommended. Cutting funds for case management or trimming from the list of covered drugs would have been preferable, said Axel Torres Marrero. Without assistance, HIV/AIDS medications can cost patients $22,000 annually. HIV drugs require "100 percent adherence," he said.

The cost of assistance is far cheaper than the expense of emergency room visits or long hospital stays if an HIV/AIDS patient goes off medication, said Dr. David Condoluci of Garden State Infectious Disease Associates in Voorhees.

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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