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September 29, 2004
Dear Colleague:
HIV/AIDS remains a major health care
crisis here in the United States, as well as abroad. Fortunately,
Congress has acted to enhance the U.S. role in fighting the Global AIDS
epidemic. However, it is equally important that we act to meet the
needs of people here at home who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. 300,000
United States residents are living with AIDS. For too many of these
Americans, treatments are out of reach without our help.
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs)
provide life-saving HIV/AIDS medications to uninsured and underinsured
individuals living with HIV disease in 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and U.S. territories. Often, access to these drug therapies
allows individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS to remain relatively healthy,
productive members of society and avoid lengthy and extremely costly
episodes of acute care. While ADAPs have administered their funds
efficiently, they face a growing crisis due to increased utilization as
people with HIV/AIDS live longer.
Increased utilization combined with a
shortfall in state funding for ADAPs has caused a funding crisis that
forced 791 ADAP-eligible patients to be placed on waiting lists.
Fifteen states have taken steps to limit eligibility, including ten that
have capped enrollment, and eight more states have announced their
intention to do so. Further, many ADAPs are now unable to provide
clients with access to newly developed therapies for patients who are
running out of treatment options.
Simply put, need for ADAP services is
greatly outstripping current resources. Please join us in signing the
attached letter to Secretary Thompson urging he recommend an FY06
increase in the President's budget for the ADAP program of no less than
$250 million above the FY05 ADAP funding level. If you would
like to sign the letter, or have any questions, please contact Katherine
Martin at 5-5330 (Rep. Bono).
Sincerely,
_________________________
Mary Bono
Member of Congress
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