ARKANSAS: State Sees Need to Slash Rolls for HIV Drug Help

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

ARKANSAS: State Sees Need to Slash Rolls for HIV Drug Help

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (12.16.04) - Friday, December 17, 2004
Nell Smith

The Arkansas Department of Health said it may have to cut the number of people in its AIDS Drug Assistance Program from 418 to as few as 184 to prevent the program from running out of money before its funding period ends on March 31. Officials said a final decision would be made after December's expenditures are reviewed.

ADH said patients cut from ADAP would be transferred to drug companies' charity programs; it pledged to do everything possible to get clients their medicine. These programs, while generous, require repeated paperwork and do not provide a reliable, uninterrupted source of medicine, said critics of the plan. "That's a drastic, drastic cut," said AIDS advocate Eric Camp, who gave up his place in ADAP to protest the state's implementation of a waiting list. There are 31 patients on that list.

The number of ADAP patients cut will be determined by per capita drug expenditures, which vary monthly. ADH had $920,640 for the program's use from November to March.

ADH hopes to receive in 2005 supplemental federal assistance, which it received this year from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Since April, ADH cut two drugs previously covered by ADAP and tightened patient income restrictions from 300 percent of the federal poverty line to 200 percent.

Gov. Mike Huckabee declined AHD's requests last fall to use his discretionary funds for ADAP, when AHD projected 32 patients could lose assistance. On Wednesday, Huckabee said he would "re-examine the program." "Our primary goal is to make sure services are provided, even if there's a different delivery method," he said. The Legislature has provided no ADAP funding since the 2002 fiscal year. Arkansas' waiting list began in September, missing out on the opportunity to share in an additional $20 million in ADAP funding announced by President Bush for states that had waiting lists as of June 21.
041217
AD042573

Copyright © 2004 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.