ADAP in Crisis

On May 17, the Department of Human Resources announced that effective immediately, enrollment for the Georgia AIDS Drug Assistance Program will be capped at it's current levels and a waiting list will be instituted. This is a result of a budgetary shortfall of approximately $6 million that has been projected for some months now. This shortfall is due to a combination of minimal increases for this program from both a state and federal level. The program is currently serving some 4,500 Georgians living with HIV/AIDS. Over the next year, it is anticipated that as many as 1,000 additional individuals will need to access this program for medications.

Take Action:

1. Call the White House and protest President Bush's proposal to flat fund the Ryan White CARE Act. With no increase in federal funds, the situation in Georgia will only get worse.

   Contact President Bush NOW via the White House comment line: Call 202- 456-1111, then press 0. Leave this message:

   "You must commit more money to the fight against HIV/AIDS -- both in our nation and around the world. $200 million for the United Nations AIDS Fund is simply not enough, and flat-funding for domestic AIDS programming is totally unacceptable."

   Advertisement

2. Call, fax or write the Governor's Office asking what he will do about this crisis.

   The Honorable Roy E. Barnes
   State Capitol Building
   Constituent Services Room 111
   Atlanta, Georgia 30334
   Phone: 404-656-1776, Fax: 404-657-7332

3. Attend the upcoming budget hearings for the Department of Human Resources.

   June 18 in Atlanta, Veterans Memorial Building Twin Towers West Floyd Room, 10 A.M. - 1 P.M. For further information call 404-656-3850.

   The budget workshops will be conducted in a round table format. Each forum will identify budget priorities for the department based on the group discussion. Participants are encouraged to present recommendations for funding priorities.

4. Contact your state legislator and urge him or her to support future increases in ADAP funding. Contact information for your legislator can be found on the ASP website at: www.aidssurvivalproject.org.