AIDS Drug Assistance Program Activists Schedule "Crisis" Summit to Find Solutions for Budget Hole

The AIDS Drug Assistance Program Advocacy Association (AAA+), along with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, will host "ADAPs in Crisis: Preparing for 2011" Jan. 29-30 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Discussion topics will include securing additional federal appropriations, programmatic reforms, available private resources, and other remedies to move beyond waiting lists and improve access to care for all people living with HIV/AIDS.

Using funds from the federal Ryan White program, ADAPs in all 50 states provide HIV-positive low-income Americans with medications. However, ADAP budgets are being strained by a range of factors including the recession, funding cuts, higher numbers of patients resulting from expanded testing efforts, and federal guidelines recommending earlier initiation of drug therapy. Also, thanks to the efficacy of treatment, patients are surviving longer and thus remaining longer on the ADAP rolls.

Florida, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, has the nation's largest waiting list: 2,879 patients as of Jan. 21. "The pharmaceutical companies have made their drug assistance programs available, but we don't know how many people on the waiting lists are being covered this way," said AAA+ CEO Brandon Macsata

According to the New York Times, drug assistance is the largest component of the federal Ryan White program. And while demand has spiked, federal support rose barely 2 percent this year. Drug companies have increased their contributions by half, to nearly $500 million, but state appropriations have fallen 34 percent, according to state AIDS directors.

For summit fee, registration, and scholarship information visit www.adapadvocacyassociation.org/pdf/2011_aaa_Conference_Emergency-ADAP-Summit-flyer_01-05-11.pdf.

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