Illinois lawmakers seek to slash HIV/AIDS funding

Anticipating the passage of a state budget that will potentially endanger HIV/AIDS programs, representatives of Illinois' service organizations spoke about their concerns in a teleconference late last week. And they fear in the face of a $13 billion budget deficit, the Land of Lincoln could join the list of other states that have already made drastic cuts to programs that help low-income people get life-saving HIV/AIDS medications.

The day following the teleconference, the state's Medical Issues Advisory Board shocked advocates by urging lawmakers to block new applicants to AIDS Drug Assistant Programs and institute a waiting list for medication. Springfield lawmakers are scheduled to finalize the budget next week.

"There's nothing left to cut," said John Peller, spokesman of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "We're expecting to see waiting list for HIV medications while looking at people being cut from the program. Many will become sicker or even die as a result of this budget crisis."

Arick Buckles, a Chicagoan with HIV, spoke emotionally to the role ADAP has played in his life; helping him to get off the streets, return to school and stabilize his life. The programs served just over 4,300 people last month, a new record high for the program.

"The assistance from this program has given me strength, hope and the courage to fight on," said Buckles. "We need these programs to continue to be funded. Without these medications I would die."

Peller and other advocates hope state lawmakers will pass House Bill 174, which would increase the income tax rate to maintain state support of HIV/AIDS programs. They acknowledge, however, a larger problem exists even if the measure-which has stalled in the House after surviving a Senate vote-passes. An estimated 45,000 Illinoisans currently live with HIV and approximately 1,500 individuals are newly diagnosed each year. Many agencies have also reported delayed payment of state contracts.

Jonna Cooley, director of programs at the Phoenix Center in Springfield, said the facility, which offers low-cost housing and free testing among its services, had recently been within two weeks of closing its doors as a result of overdue payments from the state. The center faced a $115,000 cut in state funding this year and is still owed $60,000 in contracts dating back to last July.

Vanessa Smith, director of Chicago's South Side Health Center, also reported delays in being reimbursed by the state, in addition to a $75,000 cut in funding. The cuts have forced both Smith and Cooley to choose between scaling back staffing or limiting the services they provide at a time where demand is high.

"This is unacceptable," said Smith. "The delays in funding undermine our good standing with the community. We need restructuring."

Without restructuring, it appears Illinois could join 10 states that already have capped enrollment into their drug assistance programs. Nationally, more than 1,000 people with HIV are currently on waiting lists for medication; this number is expected to climb steadily past its record high of 1,629 in 2004. Florida, which has the third-highest number of reported HIV infections, is set to adapt an ADAP wait list on June 1.

In response to South Carolina's budget difficulties, the state has cut its HIV/AIDS funding entirely, while lawmakers in other states like Utah have attempted to push similarly drastic cuts.

Nationwide, many small agencies have been forced to close. In California, some $80 million in state funding for prevention, needle exchange and other programs have been eliminated.

Advocates for additional funding argue support of ADAP and other programs is cost-effective in the long term, keeping HIV-positive people who are not able to afford medication on their own out of other public assistance programs. Additionally, advocates cite prevention funding as a crucial element not to be forgotten in a comprehensive strategy battling the virus.

"We need a budget that addresses keeping prevention funding while assuring every HIV-positive person can get ADAP if they need it," said Bruce Weiss, spokesman for the Test Positive Aware Network. "Prevention has real, tangible results and is part of a critical strategy to prevent higher HIV rates across all affected populations."