WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A coalition of representatives from 49 AIDS organizations from across the nation and 510 individual supporters from 29 states sent a letter today to U.S. President Barack Obama and Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging the administration to reprogram $25 million in unspent HHS funds to the cash-strapped AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Among the organizations that signed on to the letter—in addition to AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)—which spear-headed the campaign—are Housing Works, ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+), AIDS Alabama, Community Access National Network (CANN), A Brave New Day, HIV Dental Organization, Broward House and the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC).
The letter was sent on behalf of the 8,300 individuals on waiting lists to receive lifesaving AIDS medications in thirteen states through state ADAPs. Hundreds of patients in need are being added to the waiting list each week. In addition, thousands more Americans living with HIV/AIDS have been dropped from the program or made ineligible to receive medications through ADAP due to stricter eligibility requirements.
The letter states: “Since the ADAP crisis began, waiting lists have increased from 99 people in June 2009 to 2937 in September 2010 to over 8,100 today. Tragically, there have been deaths attributable to the lack of access to care. Further, ADAP waiting lists are the ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ – a larger crisis looms as more states restrict eligibility thus creating invisible waiting lists of thousands of helpless people who are denied treatment. The crisis confronting the nation’s ADAPs grows worse by the day, and more people will soon be put in harm’s way without an immediate infusion of federal funds into the program.
It continues: “In 2010 an additional $25 million for ADAPs was reprogrammed from unspent HHS funds by Presidential order. We beseech you to find at least another $25 million for an immediate transfer into ADAP for FY 2011.”
“It is crucial that the Obama Administration address escalating waiting lists that are affecting some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens and use the resources available to end what is rapidly becoming a public health crisis,” said Michael Weinstein, President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Foundation. “Not only will the $25 million in funding likely extend the lives and improve the health outcomes of those already infected, it will be key to preventing the spread of the disease. As a recent NIH study proved, HIV/AIDS patients on treatment are 96% less likely to pass on the virus. It is our hope that President Obama and Secretary Sebelius will heed the call of this diverse coalition that represents thousands of citizens, and find the funds necessary to end the current AIDS drug crisis.”
During a press briefing about AIDS funding last week, designed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the disease, Secretary Sebelius announced that $50 million would be made available to assist states that currently have patients on waiting lists. However, that funding had already been appropriated by Congress and was not, in fact, new HHS monies. AHF criticized the announcement calling it a “shell game” and said that by simply giving funds to states that already have waiting lists, new waiting list states were being created and the Administration was penalizing states that have increased their own share of the funding.
ADAP, a network of federal/state programs that pays for lifesaving AIDS drugs for low-income Americans, serves more than 165,000 people, accounting for one third of people on AIDS treatment in the U.S. Unfortunately, the need for these programs expands every year, as more and more people become infected and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; each year thousands of newly diagnosed HIV patients turn to ADAPs because they cannot afford their lifesaving medicines.
The letter concludes: “An ugly truth about the ADAP waiting lists is that they disproportionately impact the South, communities of color, and, in many cases, some of the most impoverished areas in the country. In fact, over 94% of ADAP waiting list patients now reside in the South. Florida alone has 3,825 people on its waiting list, has reduced its formulary, and has transitioned 5,403 patients into drug company patient assistance programs…Heroic Florida patients are awakening to the danger. Hundreds have demonstrated against the cuts in 4 Florida cities, with more than 1,000 protesting in Miami. Their anger, frustration, despair and need are patent. These Americans are crying out to you, PLEASE HELP!”
To read the letter in its entirety—and to view the complete list of signers—please click here.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and services to more than 163,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific region and Eastern Europe. www.aidshealth.org.