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Legislators Want State To Fund Aids Drug Program Vow To Try To Gain Support For Assistance To Aids Patients

By Erica Curless ericac@spokesman.com(509) 459-5439

(From For the Record, February 14, 1998): Senator misidentified: Sen. Cecil Ingram, R-Boise, raised questions about the state not funding a $700,000 AIDS drug assistance program. The proponent was misidentified in an article in Friday’s newspaper.

Several lawmakers demanded to know Thursday why the state would rather put money toward computers and office furniture than a program that provides drugs for AIDS patients.

“What’s more important, machines or people’s lives?” Rep. Ron Black, R-Twin Falls, asked.

The state Department of Health and Welfare requested $700,000 to fund an AIDS drug assistance program that would provide medication to Idaho’s HIV positive residents. But the governor’s budget request didn’t include the cash because drug companies and the federal government are paying the tab.

Several lawmakers and Lori Lochelt of the North Idaho AIDS Coalition want the state to contribute to the program, which helps AIDS patients stay out of the hospital and in the job force longer.

Lochelt said an expected drop in federal funds and cutbacks in charitable donations from drug companies are likely, so the state needs to contribute its share.

Health and Welfare director Linda Caballero presented the department’s budget request to the joint finance committee that doles out money to the state agencies. Caballero is asking for a 17 percent budget increase, which is $22 million more than what the governor requested.

Black and Sen. Grant Ipsen, R-Boise, raised questions about funding the drug assistance program, especially when $3 million is earmarked to upgrade the department’s computer system.

Caballero said the department needs an adequate computer system so the state doesn’t have to pay more money to fund additional staff positions.

Health Division Administrator Dick Shultz said the department will try to shift resources if the money isn’t found this year.

After the meeting, Ipsen and Black told Lochelt that they would continue to urge lawmakers to fund the program, which is a minuscule part of the department’s $279 million request.

Dan Heincy, of the drug company Merck and Co., said Idaho should join the partnership the companies have with the federal government.

“If every state doesn’t put up money, it could jeopardize our ability to run these programs,” Heincy said. “It’s an infectious disease. I wonder why they are not doing something to prevent this infectious disease from spreading further throughout the state.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE BUDGET The Department of Health and Welfare requested $700,000 to fund an AIDS drug assistance program to provide medication to Idaho AIDS patients. Gov. Phil Batt’s budget request didn’t include the cash because drug companies and the federal government have been picking up the tab. But AIDS advocates say cutbacks in federal funds and drug company donations are likely.

This sidebar appeared with the story: THE BUDGET The Department of Health and Welfare requested $700,000 to fund an AIDS drug assistance program to provide medication to Idaho AIDS patients. Gov. Phil Batt’s budget request didn’t include the cash because drug companies and the federal government have been picking up the tab. But AIDS advocates say cutbacks in federal funds and drug company donations are likely.