House Advances ADAP Funding

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to allot an additional $60 million to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program in 2011.

ADAP provides lifesaving medications to uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive people. The program is currently in tough shape, with states including Florida and Ohio placing people on waiting lists and in some instances dropping them from the program because of budget constraints.

"Due to the high number of people who have lost their jobs and health insurance during the recent economic downturn, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS who must rely on ADAP has skyrocketed. At the same time, federal funding has not kept up with growing demand, and state budget cuts have resulted in funding reductions," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida said in a press release. "Given these constraints, I was pleased to see that the House version of the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution included an influx of $60 million for this critical program. It is my hope that the Senate follows suit, so that Americans living with HIV/AIDS, languishing on waiting lists, can get the treatment they so desperately need as quickly as possible"