North Carolina
may expand ADAP program

Lawmakers in North Carolina are debating whether to expand the criteria for inclusion in the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program to allow more low-income HIV-positive state residents to access free antiretroviral drugs, the Greensboro News-Record reports. Lawmakers say they are expecting the state to receive more federal AIDS funds through new funding formulas including in the federal Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization bill currently being discussed by Congress. Some of the funding increase could be directed to the state's ADAP, the lawmakers say.

Currently, North Carolina has the nation's strictest financial eligibility requirements; participants can earn no more than 125% of the federal poverty level, or about $12,250 annually. But lawmakers are considering raising the eligibility threshold to 250% or even 300% of the federal poverty level, which would allow HIVers earning up to $29,400 per year to access the program.

AIDS advocates say raising the ADAP eligibility threshold would help low-income HIV-positive people who earn too much to qualify under current ADAP guidelines but have no private health insurance that provides prescription drug coverage. (The Advocate)