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