The weather is going to be great!! And building is very close to the General Assembly Building.

Every year the Virginia General Assembly holds hearings “to hear from the public” on what services should be funded in the new Biennial Budget.  Today we are reading the Governor’s Proposed Biennial Budget to learn if there are any new funds to eliminate the ADAP waiting list.  So far, doesn’t look like it … in fact, I’m a bit concerned … could there be less ??

Plan to attend any one of these hearings to tell our legislators why HIV medications must be available to every PLWH in this state.

• THURSDAY, JANUARY  5, 2012 (Hearing begins at 10:00 a.m.)

• Big Stone Gap (directions)
  Mountain Empire Community College, Philip Taylor Hall, Goodloe Center

• FRIDAY, JANUARY  6, 2012
  (Hearing begins at 10:00 a.m.)

• Fairfax County (directions)
  George Mason University, Fairfax Campus, Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall

• FRIDAY, JANUARY  6, 2012
  (Hearings begin at 12:00 noon)

• Newport News (directions)
  Christopher Newport University, Ferguson Center, Music and Theater Hall

• Lexington (directions)
  Virginia Military Institute, Marshall Center for Leadership and Ethics, Hall of Valor

• Richmond (directions)
  Medical College of Virginia, Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin Street

We will be hosting other webinars on this topic, and others, soon, so follow-up, and make sure your email address is on our distribution list.  Add your email address at “Stay Informed” on this page and to your right …  Thanks!  Sue

For details on the webinar — email SRowland@VORAonline.org today!

Call or Email Greg Fordham for details — 757-403-1419 — gfordham@accessaids.org

ADAP Advocacy Training

That’s a hard question to answer.

Do you have health insurance? Are medicines included? Is there a “cap” so that you pay all costs out-of-pocket once that is reached?

Don’t have insurance?  Do you pay out-of-pocket for your medicines?

Do you have Medicare? Do you hit the “donut” hole and how do you pay for your medicines while Medicare does not?  Do you use the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP)?

Do you use ADAP for your medicine?

Did you use ADAP and now you use private Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs?

Do you pay for your medicines some other way?

So can every HIV+ Virginian get their medicine? And why is that so important anyway?
What do you think?

That sure helps!  Yet over 760 people were pushed off of ADAP into Pharmacy Assistance Programs over the last 3 months.  The General Assembly ALSO said that it wants data from VDH about the impact of those decisions.  Specifically, “The Commissioner of Health shall monitor patients who have been removed or diverted from the Virginia AIDS Drug Assistance Program due to budget considerations. At a minimum the Commissioner shall monitor patients to determine if they have been successfully enrolled in a private Pharmacy Assistance Program or other program to receive appropriate anti-retroviral medications. The Commissioner shall also monitor the program to assess whether a waiting list has developed for services provided through the ADAP program. The Commissioner shall report findings to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees annually beginning October 1, 2011.”

This is great!  It means that the “money committees” of the General Assembly are concerned enough about what is happening to Virginians who need ADAP that they are requiring an ANNUAL REPORT from VDH directly to them!

Thanks are due to every one of you who made those calls to your Delegate and Senator.  Now, vigilence!  We must keep up listening, learning, and telling the story of how Virginia is responding to those Virginians Living with HIV who need help in getting these life saving medicines.

Thank you!

Sue