AHF and Broward House Urge Community to Help Save Florida AIDS Patients and Save ADAP

Miami: AHF and Broward House to oppose drastic state AIDS cuts at May 3^rd hearing

Florida—with nation’s third largest HIV/AIDS caseload—has placed 3,762 HIV/AIDS patients on a waiting list for its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP); State to now also explore reducing its eligibility threshold for many of its AIDS programs from 400% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 200% FPL, potentially cutting thousands of vulnerable Floridians off from lifesaving HIV/AIDS care and services

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Florida Department of Health is conducting a series public hearings on proposed reductions to the eligibility threshold to Florida'sAIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), AIDS Insurance Continuation Program (AICP), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and possibly other Ryan White funded programs and services. The next of these forums will take place Tuesday May 3 in Miami (12noon – 3pm, Kovens Conference Center, FIU, 3000 NE 151^st Street, Miami, 33181). AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Broward House are spearheading a statewide campaign to get concerned members of the community out to these meetings to help save Florida AIDS patients and save lifesaving programs and services for low-income Floridians. The hearings, known as ‘Rule 64D’ hearings or meetings for the Florida State Department of Health rule governing delivery of such care and services, are likely to be well-attended by concerned AIDS patients and community members from around the state.

In particular, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and Broward House will vehemently oppose Florida officials’ proposal to reduce the eligibility threshold for many of the state’s lifesaving AIDS programs from the current income eligibility requirement: 400% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) down to 200% FPL—a move that might appear to save the state some money in the short term; however, one that would also cut thousands of vulnerable Floridians off from lifesaving HIV/AIDS care and services and ultimately lead to far higher medical costs to the state as these AIDS patients became ill and seek more expensive emergency care at hospitals around the state.

WHAT:			Florida Department of Health, Bureau of HIV/AIDS to host MIAMI community
			workshop on proposed reductions to eligibility threshold for Florida AIDS services
WHEN:			TUESDAY, May 3rd – 12 noon – 3:00PM
WHERE:			Kovens Conference Center, Florida International University
			3000 NE 151st Street
			MIAMI, Florida 33181
WHO:			Advocates and officials from AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Positive Healthcare & Broward House have
			coordinated over 600 HIV/AIDS patients and advocates from Miami/Dade, and Fort Lauderdale/Broward
CONTACT:			Jason King, AHF Pharmacy Specialist/Patient Advocate (954) 610-3064
			Ronald Weston, AHF Director of Pharmacy Specialists, Southern Bureau (727) 612-6144
			Joey Wynn, Broward House Director of Public Policy (954) 522-4749 x 2252

As of April 29^th, Florida—with nation’s third largest HIV/AIDS caseload—has placed 3,762 HIV/AIDS patients on a waiting list to access its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), a federal/state program that helps provide lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans. This accounts for more than half of the nationwide total of people on ADAP waiting lists (As of April 29, there were 7,762 people in need of HIV/AIDS medications on ADAP waiting lists in eleven states).

“Unfortunately, many vulnerable HIV/AIDS patients throughout Florida may become permanently ineligible for continuation of lifesaving services if state officials succeed in changing the current income eligibility requirement for programs like ADAP,” said Michael Kahane, Southern Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “On paper and given the financial crisis affecting Florida, an eligibility reduction from 400% of Federal Poverty Level down to 200% seems like it might not be that drastic at first blush; however, when you drill down, you find that a single Floridian living with AIDS earning anything more than $21,780 per year would no longer qualify for any assistance whatsoever. Hundreds of Florida AIDS patients could immediately be disenrolled from ADAP and other programs. These patients’ drugs and drug regimens can cost $12,000 to $15,000 per year—so these newly ineligible patients might face drug costs that are easily more than half of their income. In light of this, AHF insists that Florida keeps its eligibility threshold at 400% of Federal Poverty Level.”

The 2011 Federal Poverty Level income for a single individual living in one of the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia is $10,890. 200% of the 2011 FPL would be an income of just $21,780; 300%—$32,670; 400% of FPL—the current eligibility threshold in Florida—is $43,920.

Florida’s proposed changes to Rule 64D-4 could have detrimental effects on eligibility for these programs:

• ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program)
• AICP (AIDS Insurance Continuation Program)
• HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS)
• Co-Pay Assistance

Nationwide, ADAPs serve over 165,000 people, accounting for one third of people on AIDS treatment in the U.S. Unfortunately, the need for these programs expands every year, as more and more people become infected and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; each year thousands of newly diagnosed HIV patients turn to ADAPs because they cannot afford their medicines.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and services to more than 157,000 individuals in 26 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific region and Eastern Europe. www.aidshealth.org

In FLORIDA, AHFserves more than 15,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS through a variety of programs, including free HIV testing and prevention programs; HIV/AIDS health care centers located in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Jacksonville, nine AHF Pharmacies located throughout the state, a statewide disease management program; and its Positive Healthcare Managed Care program.

Broward House is Broward County Florida’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS community service organization currently serving over 6,000 Women, Children, Men and Family’s affected and infected with the virus. Broward House serves the community with a myriad of programs up to and including Case Management, Housing, Full Medical Services, and Substance Abuse Counseling. Broward House currently has 12 locations in South Florida.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Jason King, AHF Pharmacy Specialist/Patient Advocate
954-610-3064
or
Ronald Weston, AHF Director of Pharmacy Specialists, Southern Bureau
727-612-6144
orBroward HouseJoey Wynn, Director of Public Policy
954-522-4749 x 2252

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation