ADAP Restoration Proposed

North Carolina governor Bev Perdue has announced a proposed $19 billion state budget for next fiscal year that involves $1 billion in cuts but more funding for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The reductions include job eliminations and cuts to all departments except education.

The governor would fund ADAP with $14 million for next year, compared to the legislature's authorization of $11 million. The additional money would safeguard ADAP's ability to meet increased demand for HIV treatment among poor patients.

Since January, when state officials announced a cap on new enrollments to ensure continued services to those already in the program, more than 400 applicants have been placed on ADAP's waiting list. Once ADAP enrollment reopens, however, the program will have a much lower income cap for participation: 125% of the federal poverty level, rather than the previous limit of 300%.

The proposed budget for the fiscal period beginning July 1 was not "everything we'd hope for," said Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality North Carolina. However, he said, "This is a huge step in a really difficult budget."

"We hope that the house and senate budget writers will follow the governor's lead and make sure there is additional funding there to serve the folks who need it most," Palmquist said. Representatives of ENC and the North Carolina AIDS Action Network plan to talk with members of the legislature during a joint lobby day on May 25, he said.