NASTAD Releases New Report On AIDS Drug Assistance Programs

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 11 Oct 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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"ADAP Watch," National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors: The report found that there were no people on AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting lists as of Sept. 26 ("ADAP Watch," 10/9). ADAPs are federal- and state-funded programs that provide HIV/AIDS-related medications to low-income, uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive individuals (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/17). According to the report, ADAPs in Alabama, Indiana and Michigan have implemented cost-containment measures since the ADAP fiscal year began on April 1. The report also found that ADAPs in Idaho, Kansas and Louisiana expect the need to implement new or additional cost-containment measures during the current ADAP fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2008. Two states -- Alaska and South Carolina -- that previously reported waiting lists did not do so for this report. Alaska eliminated its waiting list because of supplemental funds, and South Carolina received state and federal funding, which allowed the state to move all people on its waiting list into its ADAP, according to the report.

The report also found that 23 ADAPs have expanded their formularies because of supplemental funds. Four of these states have increased their financial eligibility levels, five have expanded or eliminated their enrollment caps, and six are providing additional support that previously was not available, according to the report. In addition, the report found that current funding levels have allowed ADAPs to meet demand for highly active antiretroviral therapy and other drugs and that there are no waiting lists for HIV-related medications for the first time since July 2002. However, there is a significant disparity among ADAPs nationwide in terms of formularies and eligibility criteria, according to the report.

Continued funding increases are needed annually to guarantee that ADAP waiting lists and other cost-containment measures are not reinstituted, the report found. ADAP expenditures have increased by an average of $110 million annually since FY 1997, according to the report ("ADAP Watch," 10/9).

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