Kentucky places 140 on ADAP waiting list

Due to budget shortfalls, Kentucky's AIDS Drug Assistance Program has been forced to place 140 low-income HIV-positive people on a waiting list for access to anti-HIV medications, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The number of HIV-positive people in the state is increasing, as is the number of HIV patients who have incomes low enough to qualify for the ADAP, said Michael Logsdon, a member of the state's HIV/AIDS advisory council. HIV-positive state residents who earn less than $27,000 per year and have no other health insurance are eligible for the program. But the state implemented a waiting list in June 2002 because of high demand for the program, which has slowly swelled to the 140 people currently waiting for ADAP access. State officials say $1.2 million would be needed annually to eliminate the waiting list but note that it is unlikely the state legislature will boost ADAP spending when it reconvenes in January.