Grant Will Help HIV Patients in North Carolina Pay for Medicine

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on Monday said a $3 million federal grant will allow it to provide free treatment to 278 HIV patients who have been on a waiting list for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The Obama administration announced in July it was sending states funding to eliminate ADAP waiting lists.

"It's a great thing," said Stuart Campbell, executive director of Equality North Carolina, a gay advocacy group. "It brings the waiting list down to zero and really demonstrates how important public investment is in this kind of fight to combat HIV and AIDS."

About 6,100 North Carolinians are enrolled in ADAP. In January 2010, the state announced it would create an ADAP waiting list and that no more people would be accepted into the program because it was running out of money. By July 2010, 829 people were on the waiting list when the state found additional money to reduce it by 650 people.

Under continuing tighter eligibility requirements, ADAP is open to those making at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level ($33,510 for a single person); however, new patients who make more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level (about $14,000) will be put on the waiting list.

The new funds are more than enough to eliminate the current waiting list, said Chrissy Pearson, an advisor to acting DHHS Secretary Al Delia. DHHS is considering a monthly review of new applicants to see how many more can be assisted, she said.

Back to other news for August 2012