If in June of 2004 the President George W. Bush announced this: "President Bush visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23, 2004 to discuss the need for providing treatment to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and to highlight the work of faith-based and community organizations as they seek to treat and care for Americans living with HIV/AIDS. The President announced:
Immediate availability of $20 million in new funding to deliver life-saving drugs to the men and women in the United States living with HIV/AIDS who are waiting today for HIV-related medication;
Support for the reauthorization of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act based upon the principles of focusing Federal resources on life-extending care; ensuring flexibility to target resources to address areas of greatest need; and ensuring results;: Then why is this kind of stuff happening? "The Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan region this year will receive $454,000 less than last year in federal Ryan White CARE Act funding for services for low-income HIV-positive people, the Kansas City Star reports. In 2003, the number of HIV-positive people in the region increased by 138 to 4,346, with more than 1,500 eligible for care and services under the Ryan White CARE Act (Knox, Kansas City Star, 4/25) or this? "Days filled with medication, worry: Many fear more HIV/AIDS drug cuts": New Hampshire's AIDS Drug Assistance Program -- which provides medications to low-income, uninsured and underinsured HIV-positive residents -- last year for the first time restricted the types of drugs covered by the program, the Monitor reports. Although antiretroviral drugs are still covered under the program, other drugs that treat or prevent medication side effects or other AIDS-related diseases are no longer covered." We always hear about grand words about the administration commitment to combating HIV/AIDS but every story I hear talks about cuts in programs and services. We hear about the president to pledge of 15 Billion dollars to fight aids worldwide but more and more people are on waiting list for meds in this country. I believe PWA and HIV should lobby the drug companies to use pressure on congress to expand drug assistants program. I'm sure they'd be willing since they probably charge top dollar for the meds to the state programs anyway. And it's no secret the the pharmasutical industry owns Congress.
