New Mexico ADAP faces $1.3 million shortfall

New Mexico's AIDS Drug Assistance Program is facing a $1.3 million shortfall during the current fiscal year that ends June 30 and may have to restrict access to deal with the red ink, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Health officials in the state are considering capping enrollment and establishing a waiting list for new program enrollees to deal with the funding shortfall. The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors reports that 15 other state-run ADAPs have already implemented access restrictions because of lack of funds. The New Mexico legislature in its last session failed to pass a bill that would allocate $2 million in state funding to make up for the budget shortfall. Health officials are currently dipping into federal AIDS funds that normally wouldn't be spent until after the fiscal year ends on June 30 as a short-term fix for the problem.