Governor Quinn Saves Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program

On July 1, Illinois governor Pat Quinn announced that the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will be sufficiently funded to "serve approximately 4,500 clients a month -- an increase of 400" recipients, avoiding the waiting list that had been recommended in May by the Medical Issues Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of doctors, pharmacists, legal experts, advocates, and people with HIV, and advises the Illinois Department of Public Health on ADAP policy. They had recommended that Illinois institute a waiting list for ADAP because program costs are far exceeding available funding.

In the last nine months, the ADAP program, which supplies medications to low-income, HIV-positive Illinois residents who can't afford the expensive drugs, provided HIV/AIDS medications to an average of 4,165 Illinoisans per month.

"We thank Governor Quinn for underscoring the importance of sustaining access to lifesaving HIV medications," said Mark Ishaug, President/CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Though the announcement was good news for ADAP, it was also reported that $17 million was cut from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which supports critical HIV/AIDS and public health services, though no HIV programs were specifically listed for funding cuts.

"We eagerly await detailed budget information for all HIV programs and services and hope the Administration adequately funds a full spectrum of activities from prevention to housing and ADAP," said Ishaug.