AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) waiting lists have been an ongoing challenge for people with HIV/AIDS in many states. On June 23, 2004 President Bush announced the availability of an additional $20 million for HIV medications for the 10 states that had ADAP waiting lists at that time. The Initiative began distributing medications to eligible individuals last month. 

ADAPs are federally funded to provide medications to people with HIV/AIDS who cannot get them elsewhere. Each year, approximately 135,000 people receive services from ADAPs, representing about 30% of people estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in care in the U.S.

On Wednesday, December 15, 2004, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) hosted a conference call briefing to discuss ADAP waiting lists and other cost containment measures used by states. NASTAD released its new report, The ADAP Watch, a survey of state ADAPs, which found that 591 of the 1,349 individuals eligible for the initiative at the time of implementation had begun to receive medications; 4 states, which do not qualify for funding from the initiative, have instituted waiting lists. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a trend analysis of ADAP waiting lists, Waiting for AIDS Medications in the United States: An Analysis of ADAP Waiting Lists, which found significant fluctuations in waiting lists over time and among states.

 Conference Call Agenda (.pdf)

 Conference Call Speaker Presentation (.pdf)

NASTAD Fact Sheet: President Bush’s $20M ADAP Initiative (.pdf)

 NASTAD Fact Sheet: ADAP Watch Report (.pdf)

 KFF Fact Sheet: Waiting for AIDS Medications in the United States: An Analysis of ADAP Waiting Lists

 Conference Call Audio Webcast