Arkansas ADAP drops two covered drugs

In an effort to hold down costs, a committee at the Arkansas Department of Health is urging the department to drop two drugs covered under the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. The health department had warned earlier this week that cuts would be coming due to escalating costs for the program, which provides free antiretroviral and other AIDS-related medications to 444 low-income, HIV-positive state residents. The committee recommends ending coverage of Valcyte, which treats a viral infection that can cause blindness in later stages of HIV-related disease, and the antifungal drug Sporanox. Health department officials say these medications are less vital than other drugs offered through ADAP, and can be obtained through drug manufacturer programs. The removal of the two medications from the ADAP formulary is expected to save the program about $10,000 per month. The cash-strapped Arkansas ADAP already has an enrollment cap to help reduce costs, and 11 HIV-positive people are currently on a waiting list to access the program. State officials hope that by cutting less essential drugs from the program that they can avoid implementing other cost-cutting measures that could result in a longer waiting list or tightened financial eligibility requirements for the program.