AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Funding

AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP) FUNDING -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 24, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2005

Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, ADAP, and the dire need for increased funding to help meet the needs of Americans living with HIV and AIDS. This necessary program provides medication to under and uninsured HIV/AIDS patients. Without ADAP, these people would not be able to obtain the necessary medication to prolong and improve their lives.

Every year since its inception, the number of people helped by ADAP has increased dramatically. While we are all aware of the limited resources this committee has been given to meet its many pressing needs, the ADAP program is simply and urgently a matter of life and death for over 136,000 Americans each year.

ADAP has been given a $10 million increase in this year's appropriations bill over last year, but the reality is that to keep pace with current and anticipated patient needs, ADAP requires a funding increase of $303 million. Without this funding, some 25,000-35,000 HIV+ Americans who may have relied on ADAP will not be able to this year.

In my home state of New York, where more than 22,000 people are enrolled in ADAP each year, I know first-hand the importance of the ADAP program. New York has been particularly hard-hit by the AIDS epidemic, with more than 160,000 residents diagnosed with AIDS, and 150,000 to 200,000 persons currently living with HIV/AIDS. The state government has been extremely supportive of ADAP, appropriating $60 million for 2005 to supplement the federal program.

Despite New York's statewide commitment, there are dozens of states that find themselves unable to keep up with the demand for coverage under ADAP. As documented in the National ADAP Monitoring Report, some states are being forced to take drastic measures to offset the federal funding shortfall, including establishing waiting lists for AIDS medications, reducing drug coverage, and restricting eligibility.

This has contributed to the pool of several hundred thousand HIV+ Americans who are unable to access available appropriate treatment for their HIV disease. This is dangerous to their personal health and quality of life, as well as to the public health. This ensures that more costly hospital interventions will be forthcoming in federal, state, local, and private funding streams, as HIV progresses without proper treatment.

I urge the conference committee to fully fund ADAP at $303 million. All Americans living with HIV/AIDS must get the help they need to purchase their medications and save and improve their lives.

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