A new report by
the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS
Directors shows that as of January 18 there are 10 states
with waiting lists for their AIDS Drug Assistance
Programs, with 954 low-income HIV-positive people on
those lists awaiting access to antiretroviral
treatment. The 10 states that currently have waiting lists
are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana,
Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and West
Virginia. Other cost-cutting measures, such as
limiting the number of drugs available or tightening
financial eligibility requirements, have been
implemented in nine states, according to the report.
Six more states and the Northern Mariana Islands Territory
expect to enact new cost-cutting measures before the end of
the current fiscal year.
President Bush,
during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, called
on Congress to allocate additional funds to help eliminate
ADAP waiting lists around the country. Lawmakers are
expected to address the subject later this year when
they debate reauthorizing the Ryan White CARE Act,
which provides AIDS funds throughout the country. The Ryan
White Act technically expired on September 30 but has
continued operating at 2005 funding levels until
Congress renews the measure. (Advocate.com)
