Fiscal Year 2011 Illinois State Budget Crisis Threatens Health of People with HIV, Could Increase HIV Cases
It’s this simple: State operations cost $26 billion per year, but the state is projected to collect revenue totaling just $13 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2010. Unless lawmakers identify new revenue to close this colossal deficit, hundreds of people will lose life-saving HIV medications, thousands will be denied essential services, and tens of thousands will go without prevention services. This will undoubtedly result in more HIV and STD infections and more preventable deaths.
Fundamental revenue reform is a tall order for state lawmakers in an election year, but there is no other acceptable solution to this crisis. Without fundamental revenue reform, the future of HIV services will be jeopardized along with other basic services such as Medicaid, transportation, education, public health, housing, and other vital services needed by vulnerable children, disabled, elderly, unemployed, and chronically ill Illinoisans.
Quite simply, a fair and balanced income tax increase is needed in Illinois to sustain vital public services. Combined with measures such as an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, revenue reform will benefit most residents, particularly low-income families.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced today that state funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides life-saving HIV medications to low-income people with HIV, will be sufficient to “serve approximately 4,500 clients a month – an increase of 400” program recipients. In the last nine months, the program provided HIV/AIDS medications to an average of 4,165 Illinoisans per month and the number of new enrollees continues to climb. Read the rest.
Sixty-six organizations from around Illinois signed on to a letter urging Governor Quinn to allocate sufficient funding to HIV programs to avert an AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list and continue community-based HIV prevention and care programs. The letter also highlights the funding needs of other programs that are critical for the lives and health of people with HIV.
Yes, we have a state budget. Well, sort of. Actually, it’s kinda complicated.
Let’s break it down.
The General Assembly passed on May 25 a state budget. However, this budget is deeply flawed. It doesn’t address the state’s nearly $6 billion in unpaid bills, relies too heavily on one-time revenue, and jeopardizes services for all Illinoisans. Most importantly, legislators failed to pass new revenue, the only sustainable solution to the state’s budget problems.
This week, the Illinois General Assembly sent Governor Pat Quinn a state budget bill (HB 859) that gives him unprecedented ability to fund - or not fund - state programs in fiscal year 2011. The ball is in the governor's court.
HB 859 gives Governor Quinn sole authority to allocate funding to lifesaving HIV programs such as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), HIV prevention programs, and housing and care services. Though the Governor will have large pots of funding to allocate among various priorities, it is painfully clear that the need far outpaces available funding.
Read the rest.
Facing an historic budget crisis that could destabilize HIV treatment access for more than 4,000 low-income Illinoisans with HIV/AIDS, a state advisory panel voted on May 21 to urge Illinois to immediately close the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new applicants and begin a waiting list. The recommendation is now under review by state officials.
“Because the program is deeply underfunded, Illinois must take immediate steps to preserve services for those who rely on ADAP for their life-saving care,” said David Ernesto Munar, vice president of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC), and a member of the ADAP Medical Issues Advisory Board, which made the recommendation. “The program faces total fiscal collapse unless immediate actions are taken.” READ MORE.
Nationwide, more than 850 people with HIV in 10 states are on waiting lists to access ADAP, meaning they cannot receive HIV medications. Financially broken states cannot fund this lifesaving program alone. Tell President Obama and Congress to provide $126 million in federal emergency supplemental funding for ADAPs nationwide to end the waiting lists and shore up ADAPs in states like Illinois.
Attention Individuals, Consumers, Service Providers and Friends! HIV/AIDS Funding Petition!
Beginning July 1, 2010, Illinois state government will need to operate with approximately half the revenue that was available one year ago. Life-saving services, including medications, supportive services, housing, and HIV prevention programs, are at risk of severe reductions or elimination. Please download, print, sign and fax back this letter, and share it with your friends and colleagues. In Spanish, too!
Facing a grim state financial situation, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday proposed a fiscal year 2011 state budget that underfunds HIV prevention and care services by nearly $22 million. The budget plan relies on a mix of cuts to programs, borrowing, and federal funding. Gov. Quinn also proposed a 1% tax increase to maintain education programs. READ MORE.
Lobby Days 2010 was a huge success! The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) thanks the more than 230 AIDS advocates from around the state who came to Springfield by bus, car, and train to urge the Illinois General Assembly to fund the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, HIV prevention, care, and housing programs, and to raise taxes to protect these and other vital services. The event was the largest in our community’s ten year history. READ MORE.
State Sen. Heather Steans (D- Chicago), Reps. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Deborah Graham (D-Chicago), Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), Will Burns (D-Chicago) and Greg Harris (D-Chicago) joined HIV/AIDS advocates from around the state today calling for a fair and balanced budget to protect programs that are essential to the lives of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS. READ MORE.
Governor Quinn released a preliminary budget outline on February 24 that highlights the consequences of the state budget disaster: $2 billion more in cuts to programs, a massive budget deficit, and $11 billion in unpaid bills. Taken together, the budget problems predict massive harm for vulnerable people, and particularly people with and at risk of HIV. READ MORE.
Illinois AIDS advocates expect to have difficult conversations with lawmakers in Springfield this week. Unless immediate actions are taken to remedy the state's spiraling budget crisis, vital HIV/AIDS services -- along with the state's educational, healthcare, and human service systems assisting millions of vulnerable children, families, disabled, elderly, and chronically ill individuals -- will be put in serious jeopardy. READ MORE.
Five Illinois State Representatives today sent a letter to Governor Pat Quinn requesting $44.06 million in HIV funding in the FY 2011 state budget, an increase of $18 million. Reps. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Deborah Graham (D-Chicago), Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) and Greg Harris (D-Chicago) are leading the funding request. READ MORE.
January 23, 2010 - Spotlight on State HIV Funding Crisis at State Panel
Long-time AIDS advocate State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) convened on January 22, 2010 an Illinois House panel on the state’s HIV funding crisis. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Illinois Public Health Association coordinated testimony.
Watch video from the hearing here.
If additional state funding is not identified next fiscal year, advocates told the panel, hundreds of low-income people with HIV may be denied HIV medications through the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) services or face a waiting list, hastening disability or death.
In addition, HIV prevention providers from around the state spoke out about the impact of recent HIV prevention funding cuts. AFC estimates that a minimum $18 million state appropriations increase will be needed in FY11 to restore HIV prevention and care funding redirected to ADAP and meet the medication assistance needs of new ADAP enrollees.”
The state has a $26 billion budget this year. Next fiscal year, which begins in July, there will only $13 billion available. Without revenue reform, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will be on the brink of collapse beginning in July, 2010. The challenges ahead are daunting, and the consequences are extraordinary for people with or at risk of HIV. READ MORE.
Responsible Budget Coalition (RBC):
Visit RBC's website
Learn about the "We Can't Wait" Campaign
Read the State Budget Solution/HB 174 Fact Sheet
State Health Access Research Project (SHARP):
SHARP overview (PDF)
Illinois report executive summary (PDF)
Full report (PDF)
Related Links:
2010 Policy Priorities
HB 6173/SB 3821 Fact Sheet
View AFC's ADAP Fact Sheet
Read the IL ADAP Background
FY2006-2009 State HIV/AIDS Funding (PDF)
Governor Quinn’s Budget Proposal Shaves Funding from HIV Services
ARCHIVED NEWS
2009: Illinois Legislative Session & State Budget Wrap-Up
2008: Major HIV/AIDS, Healthcare Legislation Fails To Advance in 2008 Session
2007: Illinois GA Passes Key HIV Legislation
2006: Illinois Legislature Approves Major HIV/AIDS Funding Increases
2005: Illinois Legislature Approves New HIV/AIDS Funding in FY06
2004: Illinois General Assembly Passes Budget and Session Wrap-up
2003: AIDS Priorities Advanced in State Legislative Session
2002: Gov. Ryan Vetoes HIV Prevention Funding; ADAP Funding Protected
AIDS Foundation of Chicago | 200 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 922-2322 | fax (312) 922-2916
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact webmaster
It’s this simple: State operations cost $26 billion per year, but the state is projected to collect revenue totaling just $13 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2010. Unless lawmakers identify new revenue to close this colossal deficit, hundreds of people will lose life-saving HIV medications, thousands will be denied essential services, and tens of thousands will go without prevention services. This will undoubtedly result in more HIV and STD infections and more preventable deaths. 
Facing a grim state financial situation, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday proposed a fiscal year 2011 state budget that underfunds HIV prevention and care services by nearly $22 million. The budget plan relies on a mix of cuts to programs, borrowing, and federal funding. Gov. Quinn also proposed a 1% tax increase to maintain education programs. 
Governor Quinn released a preliminary budget outline on February 24 that highlights the consequences of the state budget disaster: $2 billion more in cuts to programs, a massive budget deficit, and $11 billion in unpaid bills. Taken together, the budget problems predict massive harm for vulnerable people, and particularly people with and at risk of HIV. 
The state has a $26 billion budget this year. Next fiscal year, which begins in July, there will only $13 billion available. Without revenue reform, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will be on the brink of collapse beginning in July, 2010. The challenges ahead are daunting, and the consequences are extraordinary for people with or at risk of HIV. 
