NC HIV Advocacy Day - June 7, 2016

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 is HIV Advocacy Day in North Carolina.  Unknown numbers will convene in Raleigh to advocate for issues surrounding HIV.  This is a day that has been sponsored by NC AIDS Action Network (NCAAN).  This year, an issue they are raising with lawmakers is the ability, really inability,  for those individuals living with HIV and receiving funds from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to pay for health insurance premiums bought through the Affordable Care Act's Marketplace with funds received from ADAP.

North Carolina is one of the few states that does not allow ADAP funds to be used for premiums.  Funding for ADAP comes from both state and federal funds as well as rebates from the Pharmaceutical Industry.  The program helps individuals with low incomes to purchase HIV medications.  The ultimate goal is not only to treat as many people with HIV as possible, but to keep them treated as continuous treatment contributes to viral suppression.  Viral suppression helps individuals live longer and healthier lives.  It also makes transmission of HIV more difficult.

Allowing premiums to be purchased with ADAP funds would save North Carolina millions of dollars and improve quality of health.  This is because individuals not only need medications, but need access to healthcare as well.  A guidance was proposed by the US Health Resources & Services Administration in September, 2015 that would require states to use ADAP funding to pay for premiums in order to receive rebates from the pharmaceutical industry.  In states that don't allow funding to be used for premiums, such as North Carolina, money received from rebates would be lost.  This would add up to millions of dollars not being available to those people participating in ADAP in North Carolina.  This would negatively impact the health of these individuals and may contribute to transmission rates of HIV as viral loads go up.  If you are interested in this issue or participating on June 7, visit NCAAN's website, www.ncaan.org, or visit http://statevoices.salsalabs.com/o/72/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=649  to register.

REFERENCES

Keeton, K;  Storrow, L.  (2016)   Ken Keeton and Lee Storrow: Better access to HIV medications would save lives.  Greensboro News and Record.  Retrieved from http://www.greensboro.com/opinion/columns/ken-keeton-and-lee-storrow-better-access-to-hiv-medications/article_30abe3dc-4ba7-55a9-b491-c214cb5b5955.html

NCAAN.  (2015)  Lack of Premium Assistance in North Carolina threatens ADAP budget. A Sustainable Future For The NC AIDS Drug Assistance Program.  Retrieved from http://www.ncaan.org/uploads/7/5/8/9/7589793/adap_funding_handout.pdf