South Carolina
creates ADAP waiting list

About 55 low-income HIV-positive people in June were placed on a waiting list for access to South Carolina's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and officials say the number is expected to increase, The [Columbia, S.C.] State reports. An additional $3 million is needed to keep all new applicants off a waiting list until the end of the fiscal year in March 2007, but it's unclear whether that money will be made available through state or federal grants, says Lynda Kettinger, director of the state health department's HIV/STD program.

The South Carolina ADAP currently has a budget of about $14.25 million and aims to provide antiretroviral drugs and other HIV-related medications to 1,350 low-income HIV-positive state residents. But the program is already overburdened, assisting about 1,493 people each month, officials say. About 87% of the ADAP's funding comes from federal grants through the Ryan White CARE Act, 4% through state funds, and the remainder from various other sources. (The Advocate)