South Carolina ADAP gets a boost

The South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday approved a proposed budget plan that would use federal stimulus funding to continue HIV/AIDS services and other health programs, the AP/Columbia State reports. The $5.6 billion budget would restore some funding that was cut in July 2008 to health care, schools and colleges, according to the AP/State. The budget includes $1 million for an HIV prevention program that funds 39 church-based education initiatives, as well as $2.4 million for South Carolina's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council Executive Director Bambi Gaddist said that she had been "deeply concerned" that the funds would be eliminated. "We're elated about their incorporation," she said, adding, "We've got to have $2.4 million just to keep a lid on the epidemic. You want [HIV-positive people] to be well, working and contributing to the economy, not sick and dependent on Medicaid."

The budget plan, which health officials said would prevent more service cuts, now goes to the full House for consideration. "This is not what we'd like to have, but it's the best we can do in the circumstances," House Ways and Means Chair Dan Cooper (R) said, adding, "We're not planning to raise taxes" (Adcox, AP/Columbia State, 2/20).

For a quick link to ADAP information by state, please visit: AIDS-drugs-online.com

HIV/AIDS Funding Cuts in Connecticut

The Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition on Friday held a press conference to protest a proposed $2.7 million cut to state programs that provide HIV/AIDS services, the New Haven Register reports. Gov. M. Jodi Rell's (R) budget proposal for fiscal years 2009-2011 would allocate $4.95 million annually over the next two years to HIV/AIDS services, a 40% decrease from FY 2008-2009 funding levels. Jeffrey Beckham, spokesperson for the state Office of Policy and Management, said the proposed cuts would reverse an additional $2.51 million in FY 2007-2008 and $3.09 million in FY 2008-2009 in state HIV/AIDS funding following a $3.3 million reduction in federal Ryan White CARE Act funding.

Beckham said, "We're more or less at a constant base amount for this AIDS services account for the last several years," adding the proposal brings HIV/AIDS funding back to traditional levels. Leif Mitchell, co-chair of CARC's AIDS Legislative Initiative and Funding Effort, said that a 40% reduction in funding is "absolutely unacceptable," adding that HIV advocates in the state had said they were "willing to suffer a 10% cut." Christopher Cole, executive director of AIDS Project New Haven, said the agency could lose about 6% of its budget, or $66,000, that will affect transportation, mental health and substance abuse programs for HIV-positive people.

According to CARC, about 10,860 people are living with AIDS in the state. In addition, there are more AIDS cases among injection drug users in Connecticut than in any other state, the Register reports (Stannard, New Haven Register, 2/21).

When HIV Funding services are cut and alternative treatment methods are required, please visit www.aids-drugs-online.com for other treatment options.