Listen to this articleThe People with AIDS Coalition of Utah is asking the state’s legislature to fund a program that would guarantee low-income Utahns with HIV/AIDS access to medication.
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program is typically funded by federal and state money. However, Utah currently does not contribute to the program, which covers 629 Utahns —a number that has increased by nearly 40 percent since 2006. Nearly 70 percent of recipients have incomes at less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($20,800 per single person). HIV therapy, on average, costs at least $10,400 per year.
To make sure that Utahns with HIV/AIDS are covered, especially during the current harsh economic climate, PWACU is asking the legislature to fully fund ADAP. The total cost: a $275,000 appropriation, or $437 per person.
PWACU Executive Director Toni Johnson has argued that the appropriation would end up saving the state a considerable amount of money. Currently, uninsured people with HIV/AIDS often must rely on Medicaid—an average cost of $12,000 per person for the state each year.
If ADAP is funded, Johnson said the state could not only save money in the long run, but reduce the long wait lists facing people with HIV/AIDS who are seeking care.
PWACU is asking for the community to help bringing ADAP to the attention of legislatures during the general session by contacting members of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and the Executive Appropriations Committee. They ask that individuals send short, respectful emails to the following addresses.
House Health and Human Services Committee
Rep. Paul Ray, Chair pray@utah.gov
Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove, Vice Chair rmenlove@utah.gov
Rep. Trisha S. Beck tbeck@utah.gov
Rep. Bradley M. Daw bdaw@utah.gov
Rep. Phil Riesen priesen@utah.gov
Rep. Stephen E. Sandstrom ssandstrom@utah.gov
Rep. Evan J. Vickers evickers@utah.gov
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Sen. D. Chris Buttars, Chair dcbuttars@utahsenate.org
Sen. Gregory S. Bell gbell@utahsenate.org
Sen. Allen M. Christensen achristensen@utahsenate.org
Sen. David P. Hinkins dhinkins@utahsenate.org
Sen. Patricia W. Jones pjones@utahsenate.org
Sen. Luz Robles lrobles@utahsenate.org
Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee
Sen. Allen M. Christensen, Co Chair (see Senate Health and Human Services)
Rep. John Dougall, Co Chair jdougall@utah.gov
Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck rchouck@utah.gov
Sen. Margaret Dayton mdayton@utahsenate.org
Rep. Ben C. Ferry bcferry@utah.gov
Rep. Keith Grover keithgrover@utah.gov
Sen. Patricia W. Jones (see Senate Health and Human Services)
Sen. Daniel R. Liljenquist dliljenquist@utahsenate.org
Rep. David Litvack dlitvack@utah.gov
Rep. Kraig Powell kraigpowell@utah.gov
Rep. Paul Ray (see House Health and Human Services)
Executive Appropriations Committee
Rep. Ron Bigelow, Chair ronbigelow@utah.gov
Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard, Chair lhillyard@utahsenate.org
Sen. Peter C. Knudson, Vice Chair pknudson@utahsenate.org
Rep. Bradley G. Last, Vice Chair blast@utah.gov
Sen. Gregory S. Bell (see Senate Health and Human Services)
Rep. David Clark dclark@utah.gov
Rep. Brad L. Dee bdee@utah.gov
Rep. Kevin S. Garn kgarn@utah.gov
Rep. James R. Gowans jgowans@utah.gov
Sen. Scott K. Jenkins sjenkins@utahsenate.org
Sen. Patricia W. Jones (see Senate Health and Human Services)
Sen. Sheldon L. Killpack skillpack@utahsenate.org
Rep. David Litvack (see Health and Human Services Appropriations)
Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart blockhart@utah.gov
Sen. Karen Mayne kmayne@utahsenate.org
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss csmoss@utah.gov
Sen. Luz Robles (see Senate Health and Human Services)
Sen. Ross I. Romero rromero@utahsenate.org
Rep. Jennifer M. Seelig jseelig@utah.gov
Sen. Michael G. Waddoups waddoups@utahsenate.org
The House of Representatives’ phone number is (801) 538-1029. The Senate’s number is (801) 538-1029.
