Paper Examines Drug Access Under ADAPs

"The AIDS Drug Assistance Program: Securing HIV/AIDS Drugs for the Nation's Poor and Uninsured (.pdf)," AIDS Institute/AIDS Action: The policy paper examines the AIDS Drug Assistance Program of the Ryan White Program and how adequately it provides access to medications for HIV-positive people in the U.S. About 158,000 low-income and underinsured people -- or about one in four people receiving HIV/AIDS treatment in the country -- receive drugs and other services through ADAPs. The paper found that despite a budget of $1.4 billion in federal and state funding, ADAPs are not meeting HIV-positive people's needs fully -- 45% of people need drugs and do not receive them, according to the authors. In addition, the paper found disparities between states' ADAP coverage. It recommends 25 policy options to improve the programs and better meet medication needs (AIDS Institute/AIDS Action release, 3/19).