AHF praises California Assembly members' initiative to protect state’s AIDS drug program funding

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today praised the action taken by thirty-eight members of the California Assembly who, in a signed letter, urged Governor Schwarzenegger to protect funding for California’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The Governor, who is currently completing his 2010-11 budget, could propose up to $70 million in cuts to ADAP in his upcoming budget, a move which, if enacted, will gut the state’s lifesaving AIDS drug program currently serving more than 35,000 low-income Californians living with HIV/AIDS.

“AHF praises the action of these thirty-eight Assembly Members and thanks them for their leadership on this life-or-death issue,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “We call on the Governor to listen to the urgent appeal of nearly half of the Assembly and to protect funding to California’s lifesaving AIDS drug program. Thousands of low-income Californians depend on this program for the medicines that keep them alive and healthy.”

“Although there are no easy solutions to the state’s current severe economic crisis, the state budget simply cannot be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable, ill and needy Californians. Such a move would not only threaten the health and lives of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS, it would also jeopardize the public health,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director, AHF Public Health Division.

In the letter, dated December 10, 2009, the Assembly Members called ADAP “the cornerstone of California’s public health effort to fight HIV/AIDS” and further states:

“Additional cuts to ADAP will deprive people of the drugs they need to stay alive. Cuts in ADAP will also increase the burden on already-overstretched emergency rooms and other safety net providers who are ill-equipped to effectively respond to the chronic conditions of HIV/AIDS. Failure to sustain ADAP at levels that meet current and projected demand will leave people without access to life-saving medications, undermine program and cost-effectiveness, shift the cost to local governments and health systems, and threaten the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Californians.”

Since the announcement last month that California must address a General Fund budget shortfall of $20.7 billion before the Legislature enacts a 2010-11 budget plan, AIDS advocates, including AHF, have anticipated possible severe cuts to ADAP. This summer, Schwarzenegger cut $87 million in funding to AIDS programs, including completely eliminating state funding for HIV prevention and testing efforts, effectively crippling the state’s response to the disease.