Alabama plan could cut 514 people from ADAP

Alabama health officials on Wednesday warned state lawmakers that unless they allocate an additional $3.5 million to the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program up to 514 people will be cut from the program due to a budget deficit, the Birmingham News reports. Alabama's ADAP receives $11 million in annual federal funding and $1 million in state funds to provide anti-HIV drugs and other medications to 1,189 low-income HIV-positive people in the state. There are currently 443 people on a waiting list for the program, which capped enrollment because of a lack of funding. Without additional state funding, the program will be forced to reduce enrollment to 675 people, which would cut 514 from its rolls and add them to the waiting list. "We think the problem in HIV and AIDS is now at crisis level," said Don Williamson, an officer with the state Department of Public Health, at a budget hearing before state lawmakers. Democratic state representative Laura Hall told the News she believes the legislature will approve the $3.5 million funding request. "I don't think we can afford not to," she says.