Texas ADAP to keep eligibility unchanged

Despite earlier warnings that Texas's AIDS Drug Assistance Program would have to sharply curtail enrollment in the program because of looming budget cuts, the state board of health on Thursday decided not to change eligibility requirements for now. Health officials had been considering tightening admission requirements by reducing the current $17,720 income cap to just $12,404. That would have cut about 2,500 people from the 12,000 now enrolled in the program. But the plan was indefinitely tabled at a Texas Department of Health meeting in Austin. However, the program still faces a $41.5 million deficit, and health officials say they may have to implement waiting lists for new clients, increase the co-pays that participants pay for anti-HIV drugs, or reduce the number of drugs offered to HIV-positive program enrollees.