Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor-HHS subcommittee, has successfully included a large increase in spending for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in the FY'98 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations Bill. During conference committee negotiations yesterday, Rep. Pelosi secured $285 million for ADAP, an increase of $118.5 million dollars or 71% over 1997 funding. "Increasing the funding for ADAP is an important step in the right direction, and offers hope to those people who might not be able to afford the full regimen of medications and combination therapies," Pelosi said.
In addition to the increase in ADAP funding, Rep. Pelosi reports an overall increase of 8% in AIDS appropriations in the Labor-HHS Bill in FY'98 to $3.4 billion: AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health will increase by $107 million to $1.6 billion; HIV prevention through the Centers for Disease Control will increase by $17.5 million to $634 million; and overall funding for the Ryan White Program, which includes ADAP, will increase by $154 million to $1.15 billion.
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new guidelines for the treatment of HIV. HHS recommended a three-drug combination from the outset and changing at least two of the drugs when there are signs that HIV levels in the blood are increasing. Treatment with only two drugs is considered less than optimal and treatment with one drug is not recommended. A full course of treatment can cost as much as $16,000 each year. "Combination therapies are expensive," said Pelosi, "and the promise of the medical breakthroughs will go unfulfilled without an adequately funded AIDS drug assistance program."
Nationally, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program has reported a 77% increase in clients since January 1996 when some of the new HIV-fighting drugs became available. The various programs are collectively averaging 1,000 new clients each month.
The conference committee report is scheduled to go before the House for a vote next week. Pelosi thanked Labor-HHS Subcommittee Chair Rep. John Porter and ranking member Rep. David Obey and Senate Subcommittee Chair Sen. Arlen Specter and ranking member Sen. Tom Harkin for their support in this effort.
Att: AIDS Funding Table
1997 1998 Change
Ryan White Program
Education & Training Centers 16.3 17.3 +1.0 (6%)
AIDS Dental Services 7.5 7.8 +.3 (4%)
Emergency Assistance 450.0 464.8 +14.9 (3%)
Comprehensive Care 250.0 257.5 +7.5 (3%)
AIDS Drug Assistance Program 167.0 285.5 +118.5 (71%)
Early Intervention Programs 69.6 76.3 +6.7 (10%)
Pediatric Demonstrations 36.0 41.0 +5.0 (14%)
Total 996.3 1,150.2 +153.9 (15%)
CDC HIV Prevention 616.8 634.3 +17.5 (3%)
NIH AIDS Research 1,501 1,608 +107 (7%)
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Included in the House VA-HUD Appropriations Bill:
Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS 171 204 +33 (19%)
