FY 11 Illinois State Budget

Responsible Budget Coalition
CALL-IN DAY
Monday, Jan 10th

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.

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.

The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to wrap up this year's regular session this Friday, May 7.  Facing a $13 billion budget deficit, we need our state elected officials to step up and lead the way to a fair budget solution.  Tell your legislators to solve the state budget crisis now by voting for a responsible budget.  Send the message two ways:

1. Call 1-800-719-3020 to be connected to your state representative’s office (Find out who your legislator is by scrolling to the bottom of the page.) Leave this message: “We need you to step up and lead.  Raise new revenues to prevent budget cuts that will slash vital HIV/AIDS services and other life-saving programs. Support HB 174!” Even if you’ve called already, call again.

2. Fax your legislators. Tell them that access to HIV medications, prevention services, and care for people with HIV must be adequately funded in this year's budget. You can also download and share the message as a petition in English and Spanish.

Action needed today: Download and share this state budget petition!

At a meeting of HIV advocates and services providers on April 6, Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) director Jeff Maras predicted a grim future for people with HIV in Illinois without adequate state funding.

Rev. Al Sharp, Executive Director of Protestants for the Common Good, provides insightful but fightening information on proposed funding cuts to the Illinois Department of Human Services budget:

Facing a grim state financial situation, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday proposed a fiscal year 2011 state budget that underfunds HIV prevention and care services by nearly $22 million.  The budget plan relies on a mix of cuts to programs, borrowing, and federal funding.  Gov.

Today, 66 organizations and over 400 individuals called on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to fairly fund HIV services in the FY 11 state budget, to be introduced March 10.

Via Chicago Free Press March 3, 2010

Job loss, program cuts, fears of more HIV infection. Call them the new economic realities for the agencies that serve the GLBT community.

Donations are down even at food pantries--like Vital Bridges (left) which serves Chicagoans living with HIV

Whether they’re helping Chicago GLBTs put food on the table, working to secure and defend their civil rights, offering HIV prevention services or serving the medical needs of the community; almost every GLBT non-profit in Chicago has been negatively impacted by the economy. Many experts fear this is only the beginning. “Every facet of life in the state for vulnerable people is going to be impacted,” predicts John Peller, Director of Governmental Affairs at AIDS Foundation of Chicago.