What a Difference a Day Makes

Over 700 people with HIV and AIDS and their supporters traveled to the State Capitol on March 8th to ask for additional funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). By the end of this remarkable day, many who had never participated in such an event realized that 'people power' really can make government do the right thing!

ADAP is a lifeline program for nearly 24,000 low-income Californians with HIV and AIDS--providing free access to otherwise unaffordable medications. To help address the state's fiscal crisis, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed in January to cap enrollment and create a waiting list for ADAP services. His proposed budget also did not provide the $25 million ADAP needs next year to assure medications for existing clients.

"This plan would have caused the health of people living with HIV and AIDS to suffer, and resulted in needless deaths," said Dana Van Gorder, SFAF's representative in Sacramento. "It would have forced the state to spend more for emergency and acute health care than it would to give people their HIV medications in the first place."

At the morning SAVE ADAP rally several speakers, including ADAP clients and key members of the State Legislature, spoke passionately about the life-saving nature of the program. They emphasized the urgent need to reject the Governor's proposed enrollment cap and increase ADAP funding by $25 million. Throughout the day, advocates met with members of the Legislature and with high-level staff in the Governor's office to discuss the importance of ADAP funding.

Later that afternoon, in a packed hearing room, the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health responded to the pleas of ADAP clients and advocates. First, the Subcommittee approved some minor changes to the program that reduced spending on the program by $800,000 and used that money to offset the $500,000 the Governor said would be saved by capping ADAP enrollment. To cheers from the audience, this enabled the Subcommittee to reject the enrollment cap. Then the Subcommittee acknowledged that ADAP has accumulated $21 million from rebates paid by pharmaceutical companies on its purchases. It allocated $15 million of that amount to ADAP and used the remaining $6 million to help address the state's massive budget deficit. Advocates were confident there would be $10 million in additional rebate money available during the coming budget year to assure ADAP has all the funds it needs.

Dozens of members of SFAF's Latino Support Group and the Black Brothers Esteem (BBE) program--many with family members and friends--traveled to Sacramento. "This was a first time I was directly involved in advocacy efforts at the Capitol and I admit I was a little nervous," said Antoine Mahan, BBE member. "But going to Sacramento made me feel like I was helping myself and my friends, and it was exciting to know that I was helping to get the State to give ADAP the money it needs. Without ADAP, my life and my friends' lives would definitely be in danger." Latino Support Group member, Patricia agreed. "There aren't that many chances these days for us to come together to make good things like this happen. It felt really good to be at the Capitol with all those people advocating for the same thing--hope for people with HIV and AIDS."

In response to the community's demands and the legislature's actions, Governor Schwarzenegger thankfully agreed to include $27 million in additional funds for ADAP in his revised budget proposal, which was released on May 13th. This prevents an enrollment cap and assures unlimited access to medications for those now in the program for the coming fiscal year. We commend Governor Schwarzenegger for recognizing the importance of this program. We also thank everyone who participated in the ADAP advocacy efforts. You proved that "people power" DOES indeed create positive change!