Florida Sidesteps AIDS Drug Crisis for Now

Florida's AIDS Drug Assistance Program was on track to run out of money to treat 6,500 of its 10,000 patients by early February. Now, in an unprecedented arrangement, AIDS drug manufacturers have agreed to a one-time bail-out for these ADAP clients through the fiscal year beginning April 1, advocates said Tuesday. Florida is grateful for the help, said Tom Liberti, the state Department of Health's AIDS chief.

"They were up against the wall," said Murray Penner, deputy executive director of the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), which helped negotiate the agreement. Without the help, Florida lacked about $14 million for ADAP coverage through the current fiscal year, leaving the 6,500 clients without treatment.