Access to Medication
Early and uninterrupted access
to HIV/AIDS medication is essential in order for people
living with HIV & AIDS to stay healthy. It benefits the
community by helping to minimize HIV transmission (lower
viral load decreases likelihood of transmission). And, it
can reduce overall health care costs by minimizing health
complications for affected individuals. Programs that
provide access to medication are cost-saving measures for
the long term. They represent fiscally responsible public
policy. And they save lives.
Historically, the
AIDS Drug
Assistance Program, commonly known as ADAP, has been the
main public program for ensuring that uninsured,
underinsured and low-income people living with HIV & AIDS
can gain access to needed medications.
For many months now, federal
and state budget cuts have directly affected funding for
many of the ADAPs nationwide. North Carolina closed its
program to new enrollment for several months in 2010. At its
peak, there were over 800 people on the waitlist across the
state. Currently, the North Carolina ADAP is open to those
living at or below 125% of the poverty level, but
individuals with incomes between 125% and 300% of the
federal poverty level continue to be waitlisted. It is
estimated that funds allocated for ADAP in NC will again be
depleted before the current fiscal year ends on June 30th,
and new enrollees with incomes at or below 125% of the
federal poverty level will be waitlisted. For reference, the
federal poverty level is currently $10,890 for an individual
and $22,350 for a family of four.
WNCAP Fact Sheet on Access to HIV/AIDS meds
Health Care Reform, passed by
Congress in 2010 and signed into law by President Obama on
3/23/10, will substantially improve access to health care
and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. While this is
good news, many elements of health care reform will not
occur until 2014.
We need to urge our state and
federal elected officials to:
• Allocate adequate funding
for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program as they prepare the
state budget this Spring
• Support implementation of Health Care Reform (also known
as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010”
or “PPACA”)
• Explore additional options for improving access to
life-saving medications for individuals living with HIV/AIDS
in NC
The Affordable Care Act and
PLWHA from
Health Law and Policy Clinic of Harvard Law School and the
Treatment Access Expansion Project
