Bristol-Myers Squibb And Gilead Boost Atripla Patient Assistance Program – Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead made a joint announcement this week that they will remove the $50 initial co-pay for the patient assistance program for Atripla (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir). Additionally, the program will now cover $200 per month for out-of-pocket expenses for Atripla. The changes, which took effect July 1, will affect all new and existing eligible patients on Atripla. Eligible patients need an Atripla co-pay assistance card from their healthcare provider or can call the toll-free number 1-866-784-3431 to receive a card in the mail. Patients will have to call the toll-free number in order to activate the card and go through a verification process. For more information on the Atripla patient assistance program, please see the Atripla website.

Georgia Implements A Waiting List For Its State ADAP Program – Georgia has closed its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new enrollment and has started a waiting list, joining 11 other states that have already created such lists. As of July 1, there were an estimated 2,090 people with HIV on ADAP waiting lists nationwide. ADAPs are programs that provide antiretroviral medications to low-income individuals with HIV. Due to the economic recession and increased HIV testing measures, ADAPs are facing major budget problems and cutbacks nationwide (see related AIDS Beacon news). Georgia said it would need an additional $11 million in funding to eliminate its waiting list. For more information, please see the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Presidential Advisory Council Recommends Increased ADAP Funding – The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) passed a resolution this week calling for emergency funding for ADAPs, more funding for the Ryan White program, and increased access to Medicaid for people with HIV. The three programs provide financial and medical assistance to low-income people with HIV and have been hard-hit by the economic recession. The resolution urges Congress, the President, and Health and Human Services to provide additional funding to the programs until provisions in the new health care bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, come into effect in 2014. PACHA will hold a conference call on July 2 from 2 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. EST to address the resolution. The conference is open to the public. For more information on the resolution and the conference call, please see the PACHA website.