Thanks to leadership from Gov. Purdue and our lawmakers, the state budget was approved with $14.1 million additional dollars allocated to assist with the ADAP waiting list crisis in our state. As of June 30, 2010 there were 800 people on the NC ADAP waiting list. Of those, 625 met the current eligibility of 125% of the FPL and will now receive medications. This is a significant victory, but 175 people who are above the 125% income level remain on the waiting list.
Going forward, it is expected that the current funding will be able to serve upwards of 800 additional eligible people. On average, the cost per enrollee in ADAP is $640 per month. The ADAP Program expects to enroll an average of 120 people per month, and projects that ADAP funding will again run out in February 2011 and a new waiting list will start.
Last week, the White House released its first National HIV/AIDS Strategy which includes a total of $25 million for states like NC that are in the trenches of the ADAP crisis. This is far less than the $126 million sought by HIV/AIDS Advocates nationally. NC has had to endure cost containment measures to decrease formularies and lower eligibility in addition to having the largest waiting list in the nation. NC will apply for this funding, which may allow for more people to be served.
In the meantime, January brings the start of the 2011 long session in the NC General Assembly. It is critical that advocates, consumers, and allies thank our supportive legislators and the Governor, but also continue to fight for to maintain funding and to seek additional funding for ADAP. It is expected that next year's budget will bring even larger shortfalls and cuts. Together we were victorious in communicating the importance of ADAP, and next year we will need to mobilize even stronger than we did this year.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
NCAAN Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :: NC ADAP Still in Crisis
CONTACT: Kathryn Schley, NCAAN Coordinator
kathryn.schley@aas-c.org, 919.834.2437 x13
CONTACT: Heidi Wulczyn, Director of Development
heidi.wulczyn@aas-c.org, 919.834.2437 x19
July 9, 2010 | RALEIGH, NC —
NC AIDS ACTION NETWORK RAISES CONCERN ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE
TO THE GROWING AIDS DRUG ASSISTNACE PROGAM CRISIS
President’s plan, “simply does not address the need.”
The North Carolina AIDS Action Network (NCAAN) is extremely concerned with the Presidential response to the nationwide AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) crisis. Yesterday, the President proposed a $25 million solution to the ever growing crisis that is making its way across the country, a far cry from the necessary $126 million.
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) provide life saving medications to low income, uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, there is a $126 million short fall in the budget. The allocation of the $126 million would ensure that everyone who qualifies for ADAP would receive their medications for the remainder of the fiscal year. The current shortfall has brought waiting lists nationwide to an all time high with 2,291 people across 12 states, waiting for medications.
North Carolina tops the list with 811 people, followed by Florida (605 people), South Carolina (209 people), Kentucky (205 people), Louisiana (131 people), Utah (112 people), Iowa (100 people), Georgia (37 people), Idaho (26 people), Montana and South Dakota (both with 22 people), and Hawaii( 11 people).
Additionally, 12 states, including NC, have been forced to make cost containment changes such as lowering financial eligibility and reducing medication formularies. 7 other states are in the process of considering new or additional cost containment changes to the program.
“North Carolina, like many other states, is seeing a crisis unlike any we have ever seen before,” stated Kathryn Schley, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for NCAAN. “We are so proud that the NC General Assembly and the Governor did what they could to help our state by allocating $14.1 million for ADAP. Now, we need the President to act accordingly and propose the $126 million that is needed to alleviate the waiting lists. The President’s plan simply does not address the need.”
The proposed $25 million is a drop in the bucket in comparison to the conservative request for $126 million, which will not expand services, but only address the current waiting list crisis. Schley also indicated that these lists are growing by the day and people continue to wait for life saving medications. “This crisis is truly one of life and death. We are appreciative of the President’s action, but do not feel it will be sufficient. We implore the President to reconsider the proposal and include $126 million, so that people no longer have to wait for medications that save their lives,” Schley concluded.
For more information on NCAAN, go to www.ncaan.org; for more information on the Alliance, go to
www.aas-c.org.
Kathryn Schley
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
kathryn.schley@aas-c.org
919.834.2437 x13
CONTACT: Kathryn Schley, NCAAN Coordinator
kathryn.schley@aas-c.org, 919.834.2437 x13
CONTACT: Heidi Wulczyn, Director of Development
heidi.wulczyn@aas-c.org, 919.834.2437 x19
July 9, 2010 | RALEIGH, NC —
NC AIDS ACTION NETWORK RAISES CONCERN ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE
TO THE GROWING AIDS DRUG ASSISTNACE PROGAM CRISIS
President’s plan, “simply does not address the need.”
The North Carolina AIDS Action Network (NCAAN) is extremely concerned with the Presidential response to the nationwide AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) crisis. Yesterday, the President proposed a $25 million solution to the ever growing crisis that is making its way across the country, a far cry from the necessary $126 million.
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) provide life saving medications to low income, uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, there is a $126 million short fall in the budget. The allocation of the $126 million would ensure that everyone who qualifies for ADAP would receive their medications for the remainder of the fiscal year. The current shortfall has brought waiting lists nationwide to an all time high with 2,291 people across 12 states, waiting for medications.
North Carolina tops the list with 811 people, followed by Florida (605 people), South Carolina (209 people), Kentucky (205 people), Louisiana (131 people), Utah (112 people), Iowa (100 people), Georgia (37 people), Idaho (26 people), Montana and South Dakota (both with 22 people), and Hawaii( 11 people).
Additionally, 12 states, including NC, have been forced to make cost containment changes such as lowering financial eligibility and reducing medication formularies. 7 other states are in the process of considering new or additional cost containment changes to the program.
“North Carolina, like many other states, is seeing a crisis unlike any we have ever seen before,” stated Kathryn Schley, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for NCAAN. “We are so proud that the NC General Assembly and the Governor did what they could to help our state by allocating $14.1 million for ADAP. Now, we need the President to act accordingly and propose the $126 million that is needed to alleviate the waiting lists. The President’s plan simply does not address the need.”
The proposed $25 million is a drop in the bucket in comparison to the conservative request for $126 million, which will not expand services, but only address the current waiting list crisis. Schley also indicated that these lists are growing by the day and people continue to wait for life saving medications. “This crisis is truly one of life and death. We are appreciative of the President’s action, but do not feel it will be sufficient. We implore the President to reconsider the proposal and include $126 million, so that people no longer have to wait for medications that save their lives,” Schley concluded.
For more information on NCAAN, go to www.ncaan.org; for more information on the Alliance, go to
www.aas-c.org.
Kathryn Schley
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
kathryn.schley@aas-c.org
919.834.2437 x13
Thursday, July 1, 2010
We Did It!
Thank you from NC AIDS Action Network!
The General Assembly finalized the state budget today, which includes a recurring funding increase of $14.1 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program!
Thanks to your calls, emails, and legislative visits, our voices were heard and many more North Carolinians will receive their life saving medications!
The funding should allow ADAP to enroll everyone currently on the waiting list who is at or below 125% of federal poverty.
In a tough budget year, securing additional funding for this program is a huge victory. But we know it's not enough. NCAAN will continue to advocate for those people ADAP is unable to serve in the coming year, and will work with the state to find creative ways to get better care to more people living with HIV.
Thank you for taking action and letting our policy makers know the importance of ADAP! Together, we are building a powerful movement and making a difference.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Schley, MSW
NC AIDS Action Network
The General Assembly finalized the state budget today, which includes a recurring funding increase of $14.1 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program!
Thanks to your calls, emails, and legislative visits, our voices were heard and many more North Carolinians will receive their life saving medications!
The funding should allow ADAP to enroll everyone currently on the waiting list who is at or below 125% of federal poverty.
In a tough budget year, securing additional funding for this program is a huge victory. But we know it's not enough. NCAAN will continue to advocate for those people ADAP is unable to serve in the coming year, and will work with the state to find creative ways to get better care to more people living with HIV.
Thank you for taking action and letting our policy makers know the importance of ADAP! Together, we are building a powerful movement and making a difference.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Schley, MSW
NC AIDS Action Network
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