TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Singer Elton John wrote to Gov. Rick Scott urging him to protect a program that helps low-income HIV/AIDS patients obtain medication needed to control the virus after learning the state is considering changing the income eligibility to participate, which could increase an already long waiting list.
John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, told Scott that changing the income eligibility could add 1,600 patients receiving medication to the waiting list.
HIV/AIDS patients earning 400 percent of the poverty level or below are eligible for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The Department of Health has held hearings around the state while it considers dropping that income level to 200 percent of poverty as a cost savings measure. The program now serves 9,600 people and has another 3,482 on a waiting list.
"Given that life-saving HIV/AIDS medications can cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per year, this proposal would put these low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS in the untenable position of being completely unable to afford treatment for an incurable, communicable disease," John wrote in a letter cosigned by foundation chairman David Furnish.
The state Department of Health believes, however, that it may be able to continue serving all its current patients and possibly reduce the waiting list if it gets the increase in federal funding it expects, said Tom Liberti, chief of the department's HIV/AIDS bureau.
The budget Scott signed last week keeps state money for the program at this year's level, or $9.5 million. The Department of Health is moving another $1 million into the program from other parts of its budget. And while he doesn't know the final figure, Liberti expects an increase in the $85 million federal grant now available for the program.
"We're working as hard as we can for Florida to help solve this problem and I think with some additional federal sources and the economy getting better I think that we'll start to make some progress very shortly, " said Liberti.
Once he determines the cost of continuing to help everyone now in the program and the final amount in state and federal money available, he'll make a recommendation to state Surgeon General Frank Farmer on whether to go ahead with the income eligibility reduction. However, Liberti said he is confident that the state should have enough to help all current participants and is hopeful that the waiting list can be reduced.
John's Foundation hopes that's the case.
"The Department of Health has formally issued a proposal to change ADAP eligibility requirements, held public hearings across the state, and all indications are that Florida is seriously considering this harmful rule change. We would welcome any information to the contrary, and we hope the governor and other state officials will immediately block this measure from being enacted," said Scott Campbell, the foundation's executive director.
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