Massachusetts Legislature Approves $2.4M in Supplemental Funds for State ADAP as Part of Larger Spending Bill

The Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday approved a spending bill that allocates $2.4 million in supplemental funds for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program after state health officials said they might be forced to put some HIV-positive people on a waiting list for the program, the AP/Berkshire Eagle reports (AP/Berkshire Eagle, 9/10). Last month, Massachusetts health officials announced that increases in antiretroviral drug costs and the number of HIV-positive people in need of drug assistance in the state could require cuts in ADAP services or coverage if the program did not receive additional funding. ADAPs, which are state-managed and federally funded, provide medications to low-income, uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive individuals. Over the past two years, enrollment in Massachusetts' ADAP has more than doubled from 1,538 in 2002 to 3,224 in 2004 and was expected to reach its maximum caseload of 3,385 cases by the middle of this month (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/12). The additional funding given to Massachusetts' ADAP was part of nearly $400 million in additional spending approved by the state Legislature. The bill now goes to Gov. Mitt Romney (R) for approval (AP/Berkshire Eagle, 9/10).