| |
ADAP Response to katrina
|
| |
| |
Texas has enrolled evacuees into their ADAP program using a simple one-page application to ease the transition. Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Alabama ADAPs have developed protocols for serving displaced individuals and others may have initiated procedures as well. NASTAD has catalogued resources from state ADAP programs that have implemented guidelines - if you have questions about a specific state's program, please contact us directly.
Texas has also worked with pharmaceutical companies who stand
ready to assist states with provision of free products to replenish
those dispensed through such efforts. Thanks to Dwayne Haught in Texas for his initial work on this. NASTAD is also working with the
pharmaceutical companies, requesting that they offer their assistance (particularly the 8 manufacturers of ARVs) in other states. Several companies, including BMS, Gilead, Abbott, BI and GSK, have offered free product to replenish ADAPs that cover prescriptions for clients presenting from neighboring states. Other companies are also offering similar services, but also have larger assistance offers in place.
FROM
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 339, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 434-8091 Fax: (202) 434-8092
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the
disaster that everyone in the Gulf States region is experiencing. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible tragedy. NASTAD is working hard to coordinate and assist in any way possible to help ensure that clients who are displaced by Hurricane Katrina can access medical care and necessary medications. We are providing this update to inform you about our activities and ways in which we can ensure coordination to the greatest extent possible.
As is widely known, states across the country are seeing many
evacuees who are presenting for either medical care or medication
assistance, not to mention basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. Regarding HIV/AIDS services, there has been no substantive guidance from HRSA as to how to deal with this issue. HRSA has indicated to us that they cannot wave existing policies or law. In the absence of any direct guidance regarding Ryan White programs, NASTAD has asked states to approve the provision of services or drugs and medical services to these clients if state regulations allow, documenting any assistance provided in order to facilite future reimbursement for such services if it becomes available. Most, if not all, states have responded and are waiving residency requirements in order to facilitate provision of services and medications for clients who present for assistance.
NASTAD convened a teleconference call of states in the affected
regions on Friday, September 2. Deborah Parham Hopson and Doug Morgan from HRSA joined the call, and expressed their gratitude for NASTAD's lead in encouraging states to serve clients. Their recommendations on the call were to document any provision of services to any individuals so that as possibilities for reimbursement emerge, there is documentation to request such assistance. NASTAD updated the states regarding our recommendations to serve any clients who present, as well
as our efforts to secure agreements from pharamaceutical companies to replenish medications that are dispensed to clients from affected states. In addition, NASTAD is working to ensure that any future emergency supplemental Congressional appropriations will include Ryan White programs as well as other critical programs.
Most states have responded and are opening their care and
prevention services to anyone who presents. Mississippi, for example, is honoring any prescriptions that are presented and if there are no prescriptions available, ID doctors in Jackson will write new prescriptions or determine which prescriptions should be written for clients. Texas has enrolled evacuees into their ADAP program using a simple one-page application to ease the transition. Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Alabama ADAPs have developed protocols for serving displaced individuals and others may have initiated procedures as well. NASTAD has catalogued resources from state ADAP programs that have implemented guidelines - if you have questions about a specific state's program, please contact us directly.
Texas has also worked with pharmaceutical companies who stand
ready to assist states with provision of free products to replenish
those dispensed through such efforts. Thanks to Dwayne Haught in Texas for his initial work on this. NASTAD is also working with the
pharmaceutical companies, requesting that they offer their assistance (particularly the 8 manufacturers of ARVs) in other states. Several companies, including BMS, Gilead, Abbott, BI and GSK, have offered free product to replenish ADAPs that cover prescriptions for clients presenting from neighboring states. Other companies are also offering similar services, but also have larger assistance offers in place. Logistically, each state will work out details of these offers, but we believe this is one way to help ADAPs provide these critical medications to these clients. Longer term reimbursements for services provided may come through FEMA or emergency supplemental appopriations. PROGRAMS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO DOCUMENT ALL SERVICES PROVIDED TO FACILITATE FUTURE POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENTS.
The Louisiana state HIV/AIDS program, based in New Orleans,
currently does not have access to data and staff members are spread throughout the region. We have been in contact with most all of the staff and know that they are safe and working to pull the program together. The program is severely limited at this point and it is unrealistic to expect that they can respond to inquiries at this time. Lousiana distributes their ADAP medications through their university hospital system and we have learned that 3 or 4 of the 10 hospitals are inoperable. The others may not have full capacity to retrieve data and they are inundated with residents and evacuees who are needing medical care (not necessarily HIV related). If you need to contact any of the LA staff, NASTAD will help coordinate this communication. With limited communication capabilities, it would be overwhelming for staff to receive multiple inquiries. Mississippi continues to experience many of the same challenges as Louisiana, and the health department staff there is deployed in various regions as well, helping to assist an effective response. Their health department office is operable and they are
working to restore services in affected regions of the state.
There are many stories of personal perserverance and
determination to overcome these difficult circumstances -- too numerous to mention. We are continually reminded that our efforts in serving people living with HIV/AIDS continue to be challenged, with this tragedy being the worst example of our challenges. NASTAD remains dedicated to assisting wherever possible. We have encouraged states to plan responses for the short term (one month), but also longer term, as it's unknown as to the length of time necessary for this. We have suggested that states affected request NOW from various funders extensions of ANY reports due within the next several months.
We will continue to keep you informed of NASTAD and individual
state efforts in responding to this crisis. If you need additional
information, please contact Murray Penner at mpenner@nastad.org.
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
