Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
ADAP Shortfall Relief - New Jersey Department of Health, Division of HIV, STD and TB Services is requesting ADAP Emergency Relief Funds to augment New Jersey AIDS Drug Distribution Program (ADDP) and stave off a projected budget shortfall of 23 million. Funds will cover prescription cost for 833 recipients, 623 of whom have recently been disenrolled from a state-funded pharmacy benefit program and newly arrived immigrants who rely on the ADDP for their prescription needs. General demographics: New Jersey's total population, as of 2022 is 9,261,699 (US Census V2022). Racially, 71.1% identify as White, 15.3% as Black or African American, 10.3% as Asian; and 6.29% as Other/more than one race. Ethnically, 21.5.% identify as Hispanic/Latino. There is slightly higher percent of females (50.8%) than males, and about 22.9% of the population is foreign born. The state is densely populated, highly urban, and considered as one of the richest in the nation. According to 2022 Census data, New Jersey had a median household income of $96,346, yet it has a large wage/wealth gap with 1 in 10 New Jerseyans living at or below the federal poverty level. Income disparities are more pronounced in minority populations. Also, about 8.9% of New Jersey residents under 65 are uninsured, especially Hispanic/Latinx and Black residents who work in part-time jobs that lack benefits. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020) reports that only 24% of low-wage earners received employer coverage in 2019. Overview of the HIV epidemiology in New Jersey: There are 37693 persons living with HIV/AIDS in New Jersey (December 31, 2022). Minorities are hard-hit and account for 77% of the cumulative adult/adolescent HIV/AIDS cases and 79% of all persons living with HIV (PWH). 1 in 66 Black non-Hispanics, and 1in 168 Latinx reported to be living with HIV. Comparatively, one in 638 White non-Hispanics were living with HIV. Additionally, women account for 30% of the cumulative adult/adolescent HIV/AIDS cases, where 4 out of 5 women living with HIV are minorities (86%). 10 cities have the highest prevalence rates, and 2 counties are designated EHE counties. The numbers also track with NJ ADDP enrollment data. Based on 2023 ADAP Client-level data report about 57.7% (5035) of ADDP enrollees identify as Black/African American; 42% (3892) as Hispanic/Latinx; and 56.9% (4963) identify as White. Additionally, about 33% of program participants are below 100% FPL- categorically eligible for Medicaid or other public benefits. General description of ADAP: NJ-ADAP is a point of-sale program. It has an open formulary and provides a full range of pharmaceutical interventions required to treat HIV infection, co-infections with hepatitis C and other STIs, as well as other co-morbidities and diagnosed mental and behavioral health conditions. It also provides premium assistance. The program has recently experienced 14.4 percent increase in enrollment and service utilization, a corresponding surge in expenditure ( $115,931,054 in 2023) and levelling off/decrease in revenues from rebates. 1) more than 600 recipients recently transitioned to NJ-ADDP from the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) program, a state-funded program that serves about 1000 persons with HIV. Three major HIV drugs manufacturers, including ViiV Healthcare, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, and Merck pulled out of their rebate agreements with PAAD leaving the program insolvent. To avoid coverage gaps and treatment interruption ADDP had to absorb these recipients. 2) ADDP serves a high rate of immigrants who do not qualify for public benefits. ERF Funds will be a stop-gap measure to stave off a budget shortfall and allow ADDP to continue to provide life-saving medications and high quality, customer-centered, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed comprehensive system of services to PWH and prevent service gaps to vulnerable communities.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).