May 10, 2005
NYStateAlert: CALL THESE REPS NOW...
The following U.S. Representatives from New York State...
Peter T. King (R)
Nydia M. Velazquez (D)
Vito Fossella (R)
Jose E. Serrano (D)
Nita Lowey (D)
Sue Kelly (R)
John E. Sweeney (R)
John M. McHugh (R)
Sherwood L. Boehlert (R)
James T. Walsh (R)
Thomas M. Reynolds (R)
Louise Slaughter (D)
Randy Kuhl (R)
...have yet to sign on to a letter from Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) asking a key House subcommittee to fully fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which gets HIV/AIDS and other meds to people who have no other health coverage. (A substantial 17 percent of all ADAP users are from New York State!) The program needs added funding to make up its current shortfall, which has led to waiting lists and other restrictions in several states, and needs $303 million in FY2006. The letter needs to go out tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11.
If these congresspeople represent your New York State district (find out by getting your FULL zip code at www.usps.com/zip4, then typing it in at the top of www.house.gov), ask to be connected to them at 202.224.3121 (the Capitol Hill switchboard), then tell them (or their staff):
"As your constituent, I ask that you sign on to Rep. Hinchey's letter to a House subcommittee requesting full funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, or ADAP. This program provides Americans living with HIV/AIDS like (me/my loved ones/my clients) the meds they need to stay alive in the absence of any other insurance. To cosign the letter, which goes out this Wednesday, please call or email Averi Pakulis in Rep. Hinchey's office. Thank you."
Here is a copy of the letter:
HELP SAVE ADAP!
Dear New York Colleague:
Please consider signing on to the attached letter to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee chairman and ranking member regarding funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
Federal ADAP funding is more critical than ever for New York State. We all know just how serious the AIDS epidemic is and how important it is to have the resources to fight it. There are an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.
ADAP makes it possible for low-income persons to obtain medications to treat HIV/AIDS. Congress created a separate funding stream to appropriate funds directly to state and urban ADAP programs, in large part to address the enormous need created by the advent of new combination drug therapies. ADAP funds go directly to aid the 22,000 New Yorkers who depend on the program to afford the high cost of these life-saving and life-extending therapies.
Low-income, uninsured, and uninsurable New Yorkers account for approximately 17 percent of participants in the ADAP program nationwide. Last year's appropriation was not enough to ensure coverage for every patient that needs it. ADAP appropriations have been inadequate for the last 4 appropriations cycles leading to ADAP "waiting lists", reductions in program eligibility, and in the drugs covered. The attached letter requests additional funding to cover this year's accumulated ADAP shortfall and a total increase of $303 million for the program in the 2006 Fiscal Year budget, which will have to cover the needs of HIV+ Americans requiring ADAP over the next year.
For more information or to cosign the letter, please call or email Averi Pakulis in my office (5-6335).
Sincerely,
Maurice D. Hinchey