This recession blows.
States that are struggling with reducing their deficit are cutting efforts to provide life-saving medicine to HIV patients.
As a result, more than 8,300 people (a record number) are on waiting lists in 13 states to get medication to treat their HIV, AIDS, and all side-effects of the diseases.
Said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, an advocacy group on gay issues:
“States that have changed their eligibility programs or don’t have a waiting list, or some states have disenrolled their patients, that’s a kind of silent crisis, I think.”
The problem is that because so many people have lost their jobs during the recession, more people are without insurance and need this type of coverage.
Advocacy groups say these cutbacks are shortsighted, and that many HIV patients are able to continue to work while undergoing treatment.
What do U think? Should states be cutting back these programs?
[Image via AP Images.]
