AIDS Drug Assistance Program

But what about everything else?

WHEW! Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) clients and AIDS advocates breathed a sigh of relief on July 16. State public health officials announced that day that Governor Quinn had allocated enough state funding to avoid an ADAP waiting list or major cost containment. THANK GOVERNOR QUINN!

But will people with HIV have access to housing and care programs that help them connect to ADAP and stay healthy? Will people at risk of HIV be able to turn to HIV prevention programs to help them stay negative? Last year, these programs were cut by over $7 million. Make sure they’re not cut again!

There’s a small window of opportunity for Gov. Quinn to make sure people with HIV have housing and services to help them access medical care and to ensure that HIV prevention programs are adequately funded. Tell Governor Quinn: Thanks for funding ADAP… don’t forget community programs!

In 12 states across America, over 2,200 people are on waiting lists for HIV medications because the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is deeply under-funded. 

On Tuesday, July 13, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius will announce (finally!) that the Obama administration will partially solve this problem by providing $25 million in emergency funding to states for ADAP.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced today that state funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides life-saving HIV medications to low-income people with HIV, will be sufficient to “serve approximately 4,500 clients a month – an increase of 400” program recipients.  In the last nine months, the program provided HIV/AIDS medications to an average of 4,165 Illinoisans per month and the number of new enrollees continues to climb. 

The announcement was made when the Governor signed into law a state budget that cuts overall spending by $1.4 billion. Quinn’s budget includes a $17 million funding reduction for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which supports critical HIV/AIDS and public health services.  No HIV programs were specifically listed for funding reductions.

In May, a state advisory panel recommended that Illinois institute a waiting list for ADAP because program costs are far outstripping available revenue.  A waiting list would create unacceptable health risks for low-income people with HIV, including unnecessary hospitalizations, sickness, disability, and even early death.   

(Updated 6/21/10)

Yes, we have a state budget.  Well, sort of.  Actually, it’s kinda complicated. 

Let’s break it down. 

The General Assembly passed on May 25 a state budget.  However, this budget is deeply flawed.  It doesn’t address the state’s nearly $6 billion in unpaid bills, relies too heavily on one-time revenue, and jeopardizes services for all Illinoisans.  Most importantly, legislators failed to pass new revenue, the only sustainable solution to the state’s budget problems.

This week, the Illinois General Assembly sent Governor Pat Quinn a state budget bill (HB 859) that gives him unprecedented ability to fund - or not fund - state programs in fiscal year 2011. The ball is in the governor's court.

HB 859 gives Governor Quinn sole authority to allocate funding to lifesaving HIV programs such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), HIV prevention programs, and housing and care services.  Though the Governor will have large pots of funding to allocate among various priorities, it  is painfully clear that the need far outpaces available funding. 

On May 21, a state public health advisory panel recommended that Illinois immediately institute a waiting list for ADAP because available funding was insufficient to maintain the program in the face of extraordinary growth.  HIV advocates, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), and legislative allies urge Quinn to provide $9.68 million in additional funding to maintain ADAP, as well as $7.4 million to restore previous cuts to HIV prevention, housing, and care programs.

Windy City Times covers the May 21 recommendation that Illinois institute a waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program:

"A state advisory panel took a huge step May 21 in the financial battle for more than 4,000 low-income Illinois residents with HIV/AIDS.

"The panel voted to urge Illinois to immediately close the AIDS Drug Assistance Program ( ADAP ) to new applicants and begin a waiting list. The recommendation is now under review by state officials.

"Because the program is deeply underfunded, Illinois must take immediate steps to preserve services for those who rely on ADAP for their lifesaving care," said David Ernesto Munar, vice president of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) and a member of the ADAP Medical Issues Advisory Board, which made the recommendation. "The program faces total fiscal collapse unless immediate actions are taken."

Read the rest.

Facing an historic budget crisis that could destabilize HIV treatment access for more than 4,000 low-income Illinoisans with HIV/AIDS, a state advisory panel voted on May 21 to urge Illinois to immediately close the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new applicants and begin a waiting list.  The recommendation is now under review by state officials. 

“Because the program is deeply underfunded, Illinois must take immediate steps to preserve services for those who rely on ADAP for their life-saving care,” said David Ernesto Munar, vice president of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), and a member of the ADAP Medical Issues Advisory Board, which made the recommendation. “The program faces total fiscal collapse unless immediate actions are taken.” 

TAKE ACTION NOW!