With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act and recent launch of the state insurance exchanges, such as Covered California, there have been a number of questions regarding healthcare reform’s impact on federally-mandated healthcare programs, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Established in 1990 by the Ryan White Care Act, state ADAPs currently provide low-income people with access to life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment. Having managed ADAP programs around the country for more than 20 years, we have witnessed a lot of change and understand the importance of maintaining continuity of care as these programs evolve under healthcare reform. HIV patients that fall out of care can see a rapid advancement of the disease.
