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Unprecedented enrollment in Virginia’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) caused a severe funding shortage, resulting in the dropping of 760 uninsured HIV-positive clients in 2010, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported in December. Enrollment was closed to new clients except pregnant women, children 18 or younger and people being treated for AIDS-related infections. According to VDH officials, those with T-cell counts high enough to be deemed not at immediate risk of illness were also dropped. However, those dropped were promised ADAP support until they were able to secure their medication otherwise. AIDS clinic directors in Fredericksburg and in Fairfax County say that a number of ADAP clients in Virginia dropped over the past month have run out of medications and are not in alternate programs. Sources familiar with the Metropolitan Washington Regional HIV Health Services Planning Council corroborated the situation for Fairfax patients. Dr. Maureen Dempsey, VDH’s deputy chief for public health, said the ADAP cutback was implemented specifically to prevent these difficulties. VDH “will not transition a client without making every effort to contact them and provide assistance,” said Dempsey in a written statement. However, clients and doctors hinder efforts by not submitting accurate contact information or providing the necessary signed documentation on time, Dempsey said. Zachary Hatcher, a former ADAP client and executive director of the non-profit Fredericksburg Area HIV/AIDS Support Services community-based clinic, said the government now realizes the problem and is working to rectify it. But Hatcher worries he will become sick without being aligned with other resources. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has proposed an increase in state funding for ADAP in 2012. A toll-free helpline (800-533-4148) has been created to assist dropped ADAP clients. [Article source: http://www.washblade.com/]

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