Report
Examines Progress and Challenges Facing State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs)
Over
the past year, there have been important changes to AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
(ADAPs), federally-funded, state-operated programs which provide HIV medications
to people with HIV/AIDS who have limited or no prescription drug coverage.
For
the first time in more than a decade, ADAP waiting lists across the U.S. were
nearly eliminated, the result of a combination of factors including increased
funding from state budgets and pharmaceutical drug rebate programs in recent years,
and changes made to the Ryan White Program, of which ADAPs are a part, during
its last reauthorization. Ryan White reauthorization also instituted the first
ever ADAP minimum drug formulary requirement for antiretroviral therapy.
To
help provide a detailed look at ADAPs across the U.S., the Kaiser Family Foundation
and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) released
their 12th annual National
ADAP Monitoring Project Report at a policy forum in Washington D.C.
The
report, based on a comprehensive survey of ADAPs in the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, territories, and associated jurisdictions, documents new developments
and challenges facing ADAPs, assesses key trends over time, and provides the latest
data on the status of these programs.
Survey highlights include:
•
The ADAP client caseload reached
its highest level since the program's inception, with about 146,000 people enrolled
in 2007 and 102,000 served in the month of June 2007 alone.
•
Most clients are low-income,
with more than 4 in 10 having incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty
Level.
•
Approximately two-thirds of
ADAP clients are people of color (33% are African American, 26% are Hispanic).
•
The total ADAP budget for
fiscal year 2007 was $1.4 billion.
•
In June 2007, more than $100
million was spent on HIV prescription drugs.
•
Most ADAP clients are concentrated
in states with the highest numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS.
•
California, New York, Texas,
Florida, and Pennsylvania accounted for about half (51%) of total enrollment in
June 2007.
•
In March 2008, Montana was
the only state that had a waiting list (consisting of 3 people), compared with
March 2007, when 4 states had a total of 571 people on waiting lists.
Over
the past year, there have been important changes to AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
(ADAPs), federally-funded, state-operated programs which provide HIV medications
to people with HIV/AIDS who have limited or no prescription drug coverage. 
