PI Action alerts & updates ... 2003

Call the White House This Week

Urge President Bush to fight for $283 million increase for ADAP
Background:

Last week, 180 community-based organizations from 29 states sent a letter to President Bush asking that he fight for $283 million in new federal funding for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs as a priority in the Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations bill, as well as the highest level of funding for all Titles of the Ryan White CARE Act.

For the past four years, ADAP has been inadequately funded to meet the increasing demand. The funding levels being proposed this year are particularly shocking. To date, Congress has voted to appropriate only 10% to 15% of the amount needed. By the end of 2004, over 20,000 newly diagnosed HIV+ Americans will not be able to receive life-saving medications from ADAP.

The expected widespread Program closures and access restrictions have already started. Nearly 600 people are currently on ADAP waiting lists across the country. Twelve states have capped enrollment (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota and West Virginia). Three states (New York, Washington and Oklahoma) have restricted access using other means (lowering financial eligibility caps, reducing formularies) and at least six additional states (including Texas and California) have reported that they anticipate implementing substantial new restrictions.

Please help us follow up with this letter by urging President Bush to fully fund ADAP!

Take Action!
Anytime this week, August 4 to 8, call the White House comment line, 202-456-1111, and follow the prompts to reach a real person. Use the sample message below to help craft your message:

Sample Message

“My name is ___________ and I’m calling from (city, state). I am calling to urge President Bush to include a request for a $283 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in his Statement of Administration’s Principles regarding the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill. I also urge that the Administration support the highest possible funding for all Titles of the Ryan White CARE Act.”

Please also include a personal message stating how important ADAP is to you and your loved ones.

Thanks for your help to Save ADAP!

What are ADAPs?
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), funded primarily through the Ryan White CARE Act, provide HIV/AIDS prescription drugs to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and other U.S. Territories.

ADAP covers patients who are primarily poor (81% earn less than $18,000 a year), minority (33% African American, 25% Hispanic) and without insurance covering prescription drugs. ADAP currently serves approximately 90,000 clients per month.

The Save ADAP Committee is a Working Group of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC), a national coalition of AIDS treatment activists and policy advocates. Working in conjunction with ADAP clients and service providers on the grassroots level, Save ADAP aims to ensure adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. 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