AIDS Advocates to Rally at Ohio Statehouse Over AIDS Drug Crisis

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AIDS Advocates to Rally at Ohio Statehouse Over AIDS Drug Crisis Scores of Advocates, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Supporters and Family Members are Expected Outside the Columbus Statehouse Wednesday, June 15th at 1:30pm 413 Ohioans Living with HIV/AIDS Are on Waitlist to Receive Lifesaving Medications: Coalition to Ask Governor Kasich for Assistance in Solving This Public Health Crisis COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Scores of AIDS advocates are expected to participate in a rally Wednesday, June 15th at 1:30 PM outside the Ohio Statehouse on Capitol Square west side entrance on High Street to bring attention to the state’s current AIDS drug crisis. Budget shortfalls have fueled waiting lists for state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) across the country. More than 8,300 individuals in thirteen states are now on waiting lists to receive lifesaving AIDS medications. In Ohio, 413 people are currently on the state’s ADAP waiting list and that number is expected to increase steadily. Advocates will appeal to Governor Kasich for assistance in solving this urgent crisis. The coalition sponsoring the rally includes: AIDS Awareness LLC, ADAP Educational Initiative, Task Force of Lorain County and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). “As the largest provider of HIV care and treatment in the United States, AIDS Healthcare Foundation advocates for fully funded ADAPs and an end to the wait lists which essentially ration HIV/AIDS drugs for over 8,300 people in thirteen states”WHAT: Rally to Solve Ohio’s AIDS Drug Crisis WHEN: WEDNESDAY, June 15th – 1:30 PM WHERE: Ohio Statehouse on Capitol Square, between Broad and State St. WHO: Dave Baker, CEO, Founder, AIDS Awareness, LLC Eddie Hamilton, ADAP Educational Initiative Terrill, Domestic Advocacy Manager, AIDS Healthcare Foundation CONTACT: Lori Yeghiayan, AHF Comm. Department, (323) 377-4312; Terrill, AHF, (213) 453-3630; Dave Baker, AIDS Awareness LLC, (614) 419-8206 “AIDS has been a challenge for me, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have lived in Ohio for 45 years and I am a voter,” said Dave Baker of AIDS Awareness, LLC. “My family and I are thankful for the HIV drugs that have kept me healthy and I advocate on behalf of all citizens in Ohio who need these life-saving medications, but who can’t speak out. The wait list needs to end.” “ADAP Educational Initiative believes that the OhDAP has been successful in providing access to lifesaving drugs to HIV Positive Ohioans, many of whom are taxpayers,” said Eddie Hamilton of ADAP Educational Initiative, Columbus. “However, the proposed Ohio Department of Health’s medical criteria rules, reductions and waiting list are the equivalent of the feared ‘death panels’ and will result in higher health care costs due to increased hospitalizations and lost productivity.” “As the largest provider of HIV care and treatment in the United States, AIDS Healthcare Foundation advocates for fully funded ADAPs and an end to the wait lists which essentially ration HIV/AIDS drugs for over 8,300 people in thirteen states,” said Terrill of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Cost containment strategies are putting lives at risk in a penny-wise, pound-foolish policy that denies funding for medicine today and then incurs costly medical treatment down the road.” Contacts Media Contacts:AIDS Awareness LLCDave Baker, (614) 419-8206aidsawarenessllc@...orAIDS Healthcare Foundationph Terrill, Cell: (213) 453-3630joseph.terrill@... # # #