PI Action alerts & updates ... 2003

Congress To Begin Debating Funding Levels For Next Year

AIDS Drug Assistance Program Crisis Continues

Congress is starting its Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations process earlier than expected. On Thursday June 19, the House Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to begin debating and voting on funding levels for programs funded by Labor-HHS. Included in this bill will be funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and other HIV/AIDS care, treatment, prevention, and research programs.

Despite tireless efforts from people around the country, the crisis in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) rages on. Congress approved an $80 million increase for ADAP in the final FY 03 appropriations bill, less than half the amount identified as needed to alleviate the crisis. In addition, many states are facing severe financial problems and are unable to make sufficient contributions to the program.

A recent report called the “National ADAP Monitoring Report”, issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, and the AIDS Treatment Data Network, finds that ADAPs across the country continue to be unable to meet the needs of people who depend on the program. Fourteen states have implemented waiting lists and/or access restrictions as of April 2003, with several more predicting the need to make similar restrictions sometime this year. For more information and to download the report, go to www.atdn.org.

AIDS treatment policy experts have determined that a $283 million increase is needed for ADAP for Fiscal Year 2004 (which starts on October 1, 2003) in order to alleviate the ADAP crisis. This figure takes into account the current budget shortfall in the program, the needs of those on waiting lists, and the addition of Fuzeon and Hepatitis C treatments.

While there may be efforts later this year to obtain an emergency supplemental appropriation for ADAP, right now your help is needed to encourage the House of Representatives to support full funding for ADAP and the highest possible increases for all HIV/AIDS programs for FY 04. Please take a few minutes to call your Representative today!

How you can help:
Please call your U.S. Representative before Thursday, June 19. Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles HIV/healthcare issues. Whether you speak live to the staffer or leave a voicemail, please convey the following message:

“I am a constituent of Representative __________. I am urging the Congressman/woman to do everything in his/her power to secure a $283 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP provides access to treatment to people with HIV who otherwise couldn’t afford it. The program is in a fiscal crisis and this amount is needed to make sure that people can benefit from lifesaving medications. I encourage Representative __________ to convey his support for this increase and the highest possible increases for all HIV/AIDS programs to members of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee.”

**Note that calls to Senators are not needed at this time**

Contact information:
You can call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-800-839-5276. Ask to be connected to your Representative.

Don’t know who your representative is? Call 1-888-VOTE-SMART or visit www.vote-smart.org.

Please forward this Alert widely! For more information, please contact one of the following SAVE ADAP members:

Bill Arnold (DC)
Title II Community AIDS National Network
202-588-1775
weaids@tiicann.org

Mark Baker (Massachusetts)
AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
508-487-9445 x47 or pasg@capecod.net

James Carr (Indiana)
jamesmcarr@hotmail.com

Lei Chou (New York)
AIDS Treatment Data Network
TheAccessProject@aol.com

Ryan Clary (California)
Project Inform
415-558-8669 x224
rclary@projectinform.org

Linda Dee (Maryland)
AIDS Action Baltimore
410-837-2437
lyndamdee@aol.com

Amanda Diers (Florida)
Florida AIDS Action
813-974-2838
amandaflaac@aol.com

Pat Donahue (Rhode Island)
tapd33@hotmail.com

Mark Garrett (Washington)
Spokane AIDS Network
509-455-8993 x221
speakinup@msn.com

Sue Gibson (Texas):
suegibson@nova1.net

Kathie Hiers (Alabama)
AIDS Alabama
205-324-9822 ext. 331
Kathie@aidsalabama.org

Patrick Lee (North Carolina)
North Carolina Council for Positive Living
336-586-0062
ncaan@ncpositiveliving.org

David Munar (Illinois)
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
312-922-2322
dmunar@aidschicago.org

Jim Musselwhite (Washington)
360-570-8380
aeon97@tss.net

Robert O’Brien (Pennsylvania)
215-803-5181

Murray Penner (DC)
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD)
202-434-8099
mpenner@nastad.org

Fred Scaich (Oregon)
IFARA@attbi.com

Jerry Spillman (California)
gspillman@earthlink.net

Brian Varner (Tennessee)
Tennessee AIDS Support Services, Inc.
865-525-7766
tassi@kornet.org