The Florida Department of Health has made substantial changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) citing a record increase in clients brought on by the current economic climate. The department has instituted a waiting list for ADAP and the drugs offered through the program will be limited to antiretroviral (ARV) and opportunistic infections (OI). Clients receiving medications through Ryan White Part A will not be affected.
Current Florida ADAP clients were informed of the changes through a flyer enclosed in the bag with their latest round of medications.
Current clients will remain enrolled in the program provided they pick-up their medications at the scheduled time and re-enroll in the program every six months. Clients failing to meet either of these stipulations will be automatically changed to a “closed” status and will be placed on a waiting list when they re-enroll. The waiting list and enrollment policy went into effect June 1.
“This essentially makes people who are newly infected and unable to cover costs unable to get their meds,” said Ed P., who asked that his last name not be used. “It’s almost like the beginning of the crisis in the 1980s. You’re infected and there’s nothing you can do to combat the disease.”
According to the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), Florida is one of 11 states implementing a waiting list. Florida is the largest state to adopt a waiting list, and has the third largest population of people living with HIV and AIDS (approx. 18,000). As of June 10, Florida had 113 individuals on its waiting list.
That number, while it may appear small, concerns Andy Stone of St. Petersburg.
“Sure, 113 doesn’t look big when you look at the overall population, but when timing is everything, not getting your meds can be a life and death situation,” he said. “Those of us fighting HIV have always been told how important it is to start treatment immediately and to remain on that regimen. This cuts make it difficult for some to even get started on a program.”
Effective August 1, the Florida ADAP formulary will be reduced to include 28 ARVs and 19 OIs. Wanda Tomlinson, insurance/pharmacy coordinator for Hope & Help of Central Florida, said a list of drugs are expressly excluded. Examples of “wrap around” drugs that are likely to be included are: wasting medicines, psychotherapy, hypoglycemia and blood pressure medications.
To provide clients with drugs not covered by the ADAP, AIDS service organizations, such as Hope & Help, will rely more heavily on existing relationships with drug manufacturers through Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). The success of providing these drugs may be precluded by cost and controls that require the client to extensive documentation.
“The goal of everyone in this field is to not let people go without their medications,” Tomlinson said.
