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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 133
BY REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL JACKSON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express support for the Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C and the
Louisiana AIDS Advocacy Network in requesting urgent disbursement of additional
federal funding for Louisiana AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.
WHEREAS, the United States faces a major public health crisis for low-income
persons living with HIV or AIDS due to the insufficient funding of more than a dozen state
AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) and the subsequent implementation of cost
containment measures or closures within these programs; and
WHEREAS, access to antiretroviral medications provided through state ADAPs has
been demonstrated to slow HIV disease progression, enhance the quality of life of persons
living with HIV, delay the onset of AIDS, and extend life; and
WHEREAS, a low viral burden has also been associated with a reduced rate of HIV
transmission; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana office of public health HIV/AIDS Program has already
implemented cost containment measures in excess of two million dollars and still faces a
significant budget deficit for the state's ADAP; and
WHEREAS, in the past twelve months, as a result of stagnant levels of federal
funding, rising unemployment, and aggressive HIV testing initiatives funded by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Louisiana ADAP has experienced a fifteen
percent increase in the overall number of unduplicated clients served; a seventeen percent
increase in average antiretroviral medication cost per client; a twenty-two percent increase
in utilization of services; and a thirty-two percent increase in overall program expenditures;
and
WHEREAS, these trends of increasing client utilization and program costs do not
show signs of reversing; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 133
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WHEREAS, the level of federal funds available has not kept pace with the increase
in client utilization of state ADAPs, creating a need for additional funding on an emergency
basis; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana may be forced to cap new enrollment to the state's ADAP
without such funds; and
WHEREAS, such a limitation would create barriers to Louisianians accessing life-
prolonging medications and will potentially increase HIV-related morbidity and mortality
in this state; and
WHEREAS, according to the CDC's 2007 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Volume
19, Louisiana ranked fifth highest among all states in AIDS case rates and eleventh highest
among all states in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed in 2007; and
WHEREAS, as also identified in this CDC report, New Orleans ranked second
highest in AIDS case rates among the largest United States metropolitan areas and Baton
Rouge ranked third highest.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
support the Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C and the Louisiana AIDS
Advocacy Network in requesting urgent disbursement of additional federal funding for the
Louisiana AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in taking this action, the Legislature of
Louisiana intends to mitigate the effects of cost containment measures in the Louisiana
AIDS Drug Assistance Program and prevent the further limitation or closure of this program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Commission on HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C and to the Louisiana AIDS Advocacy
Network.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE