HIV Treatment Access

An alarming proposal in the US states of Florida is causing HIV/AIDS patients to fear a ripple effect that could put HIV treatment access in jeopardy. According to a May 2011 article in the St. Petersburg Times, the income limits for those receiving state aid for life-savings HIV medications could be lowered drastically. This would preclude those currently receiving help who make more than $22,000 each year from getting help with the enormous cost of their medications. Many might think that this solution was being proposed because funding had decreased, but the reality, according to chief of the state bureau of HIV/AIDS, is more complicated.

The funding from the US federal government and the Florida state government has remained stable over the past few years. In addition, the number of people who need the medications has stayed approximately the same. However, the possibility of HIV treatment access in jeopardy is resulting from a rising number of patients without health insurance. This could be a result of rising insurance costs, changes in insurance company acceptance, the HIV population getting sicker and unable to work their previous jobs, or simply an economy where there are fewer jobs available. Whatever the root cause, the proposed changes are very scary to many HIV/AIDS patients who fear they will have to choose between taking their meds and paying their rent.

Currently there are about 4,000 people on a waiting is for assistance with medications in Florida and another 9,600 patients are already receiving help. This is based on the qualification criteria of an income level below $43,560 a year. The possible changes to the system that could put HIV treatment access in jeopardy would basically cut that income level in half, putting the cut-off point at $21,780. The program helps patients afford antiretroviral drugs and other medications that help to protect patient immune systems and control HIV. The program has already tried other tactics in the past year to help reduce costs, including creating a waiting list and reducing the number of medications covered from 100 to 50.
By Alain Lafeuillade