Money allocated to treat HIV/AIDS

S.C. lawmakers OK $2.4 million for drug assistance

By CZERNE M. REID - czreid@thestate.com

For the second year in a row, lawmakers have approved new funds to provide lifesaving medicines for people with HIV/AIDS who have little or no income or health insurance.

The $2.4 million allocated to the mostly federally funded AIDS Drug Assistance Program run by the health department follows a $4 million allotment last year.

“I made it through (a period of sickness) because of what you have done. I got the medications I needed,” Deadra Lawson Smith, who has been living with HIV for 20 years, told lawmakers Wednesday.

The money will help stave off a waiting list like the one that grew to 567 people after federal funding cuts last year. The program again faces federal cuts and rising costs.

In the long run, spending money to keep people healthy helps save the state billions.

An economic impact study by infectious disease specialist and researcher Dr. Kent Stock showed that in 2002, HIV/AIDS cost South Carolina $6.5 billion in treatment and lost wages.

People who are healthy can work and contribute to the state’s economy. In addition, HIV medications lower the risk that an infected person will pass the disease on to others.

“We have finally, as a state, come to grips with HIV/AIDS and are willing to put resources to stem the spread of this disease,” said Rep. Joe Neal, D-Richland, who has championed efforts in the State House to fund HIV prevention and treatment.

The state’s contribution has risen sharply from 5 percent of the drug program’s budget in 2007 to 19 percent, a figure closer to — if less than — what neighboring states provide for their programs.

“In all honesty, we had a lot of catching up to do,” said Dr. Helmut Albrecht, chief of Infectious Diseases at USC School of Medicine. “This is just bringing us up to where we should be.”

About 100 people a month apply for help from the drug program, said director Sonya Bayone.

Higher drug prices, new national recommendations that people with HIV start treatment sooner, and increased efforts to get people tested for HIV all have contributed to rising costs for the drug program.

About 800 South Carolinians a year are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and for the last 10 years, the state has ranked in the top 10 among all states for HIV infection rates.

The S.C. HIV/AIDS Care Crisis Task Force — a group of community organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, physicians, pharmaceutical representatives and health officials — formed in 2006 to educate lawmakers about HIV in South Carolina and press for money to end the waiting list.

The group already is looking past its current success to the next needs, including increased demand as testing initiatives around the state identify more HIV-positive people.

“There are (Chamber of Commerce) initiatives talking about going from ‘Good to Great.’ What that requires is a healthy work force,” said Bambi Gaddist, executive director of the S.C. HIV/AIDS Council.

“A health agenda is important for economic stability. In the past, we have left HIV off. It’s important that we place HIV on that health agenda.”

Reach Reid at (803) 771-8378.