Date: Tue, 15 Jul 97 17:55:18 EDT From: "communications" Subject: House Panel Ups Funds for ADAPs; Falls Short on Prevention ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 15, 1997 79 PERCENT INCREASE FOR AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS GOOD NEWS, SAYS HRC But Funding for Prevention Falls Short of Need WASHINGTON -- A House appropriations subcommittee substantially increased funding levels today for a program that provides the new life-prolonging drugs to people with HIV and AIDS, according to the Human Rights Campaign. At the same time, however, House appropriators approved inadequate increases in programs dealing with HIV/AIDS prevention and early intervention. "The subcommittee did the right thing by substantially increasing funding to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, something we have been calling for," said Seth Kilbourn, HRC's senior policy analyst for health. "Several recent reports have spotlighted the need to increase funding for these programs because many are facing cash shortfalls at a time when they're also expecting demand to rise." The subcommittee dealing with the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations bill approved $299 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, a 79 percent increase over fiscal 1997. The bill also included a 4.6 percent increase for AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health and a 4 percent increase for emergency assistance grants to cities hardest hit by the epidemic. "This is a clear sign that these members of Congress understand the importance of getting the new drugs, primary care and other services to people who might not otherwise be able to afford them," Kilbourn said. "We also welcome the increase for NIH research, but we're concerned that the subcommittee did not set adequate levels for HIV prevention programs conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and for early intervention programs." These early intervention programs include outpatient care services for rural and underserved urban areas. A report released last week by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and the AIDS Treatment Data Network found that more than half the 52 state ADAPs have had to impose limits to cope with increased demands and costs. And last month, the federal government released the first proposed guidelines for using the new, more effective multi-drug therapies -- a move destined to strain ADAPs even more. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -