Restore the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program!

Take action by Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Contact:	·	Richard Jones, Administration (877) KEF-5775 (office)
	·	Rick Wolfe, Special Adviser (877) KEF-5775 (office)

HIV and AIDS healthcare in Kentucky stopped in 2007 when the Commonwealth failed to renew the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The health of low-income Kentuckians living with HIV, as well as the lives of those at risk of infection are in grave danger; we need your help to restore the program!

Kentucky has more than 1,200 people enrolled in its program for low-income HIV and AIDS patients. But the Lexington Herald-Leader reports nearly 100 patients are on a waiting list that started in June for the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program (a Kentucky program, different from the Ryan White Programs).

"The fact that the Commonwealth stopped funding the low-income program in 2007 is inhumane, shortsighted, and threatens individual and public health," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader:

State lawmakers acknowledge they have overlooked the program. They think it deserves state money again, but nobody is sure where that money would come from in the 2010 General Assembly, where the talk will be about cuts. Economic forecasters predict a possible state budget shortfall of more than $1 billion over the next two years.

"Frankly, with some of these programs, the legislature just loses track of them because at any given moment there's 1,500 issues in front of us," said House Health and Welfare Chairman Tom Burch (D-Louisville). (story)

You can help people with HIV/AIDS healthcare in Kentucky. Use the same letter below (or write your own) to contact the House Committee on Health and Welfare Members.

PLEASE BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL OF YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!

Sample Letter

Send email to:
House Committee on Health and Welfare
Senior Kentucky Representatives

Message Subject:

Message Body:
As a voting citizen of the Commonwealth, I ask you to take immediate action to restore funding for life saving medications for people living with HIV in Kentucky. With acknowledgment that Kentucky is in an unparalleled fiscal crisis � failure to restore the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program and cutting other essential programs and threatening real people's lives is not how we should close the deficit. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky has more than 1,200 people enrolled in its program for low-income HIV and AIDS patients. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports nearly 100 patients are on a waiting list that started in June for the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The fact that the Commonwealth stopped funding the low-income program in 2007 is inhumane, shortsighted, and threaten individual and public health. Please act now. cc: Kentucky Equality Federation cc: Kentucky HIV AIDS Advocacy Action Group

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