Report Title:

HIV/AIDS Programs; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $         for the Hawaii seropositivity and medical management program, and $          for the HIV drug assistance program. (SB2385 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2385

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that at the end of 2001, Hawaii had one thousand seventy reported AIDS cases, five of which were children under the age of thirteen. The STD/AIDS prevention branch of the department of health manages programs that provide clinical and therapeutic services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

One such program is the Hawaii seropositivity and medical management program. This program provides two annual physician visits and laboratory tests for HIV care. Approximately nine hundred forty-four individuals with HIV/AIDS are enrolled in the program. Due to limited funding, however, this program is no longer able to provide all the laboratory tests that are critical for physicians to successfully treat the virus. State funding has not increased since its initial appropriation of $490,000 in 1989.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate additional funds for the Hawaii seropositivity and medical management program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005 in additional funding for the Hawaii seropositivity and medical management program.

PART II

SECTION 3. The HIV/AIDS drug assistance program provides essential lifesaving medications for people living with HIV/AIDS who would not otherwise be able to obtain them because they lack medical insurance or drug coverage. Approximately one hundred ninety-five persons receive these services every month. The Hawaii HIV/AIDS drug assistance program formulary is based on the Public Health Service treatment guidelines from the federal government. State funding for this program has not increased since 1989. The program currently receives $440,000 annually. The large increases in program costs, particularly since the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy, have been covered by annual increases in the federal Ryan White CARE Act funding, which gives Hawaii $1,930,000. However, the United States Congress has not increased funding in the current and next fiscal years and, given the current fiscal climate, no increase is expected in the near future. As a result, this program has been forced to remove drugs from the formulary and is considering starting a waiting list for new clients. Consequently, people living with HIV/AIDS in Hawaii may not have access to life-saving HIV medications. This lack of HIV treatment will necessitate other increased costs to the State through increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate additional funds for the HIV/AIDS drug assistance program.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005 for the HIV/AIDS drug assistance program.

PART III

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.