Singer Elton John wrote to Gov. Rick Scott urging him to protect a program that helps low-income
HIV/AIDS patients obtain medication needed to control the virus after learning the state is considering changing the income eligibility to participate, which could increase an already long
waiting list.
John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, told Scott that changing the income eligibility could add 1,600 patients receiving medication to the waiting list.
HIV/AIDS patients earning 400 percent of the poverty level or below are eligible for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The Department of Health has held hearings around the state while it
considers dropping that income level to 200 percent of poverty as a cost savings measure.
The program now serves 9,600 people and has another 3,482 on a waiting list.
"Given that life-saving HIV/AIDS medications can cost between $10,000 and $30,000 per year, this proposal would put these low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS in the untenable position of
being completely unable to afford treatment for an incurable, communicable disease," John wrote in a letter cosigned by foundation chairman David Furnish.
The state Department of Health believes, however, that it may be able to continue serving all its current patients and possibly reduce the waiting list if it gets the increase in federal funding it expects, said Tom Liberti, chief of the department's HIV/AIDS bureau.
The budget Scott signed last week keeps state money for the program at this year's level, or $9.5 million.
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The Department of Health is moving another $1 million into the program from other parts of its budget. And while he doesn't know the final figure, Liberti expects an increase in the $85 million federal grant now available for the program.
"We're working as hard as we can for Florida to help solve this problem and I think with some additional federal sources and the economy getting better I think that we'll start to make some
progress very shortly," Liberti said.
