On July 1, Illinois state government will shut down if the General Assembly and Governor Bruce Rauner cannot come to an agreement on a budget.
This could mean a grim future for people with HIV in Illinois, as programs like the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) might shut down.
ADAP provides lifesaving HIV medications to low-income people living with HIV. The number of people needing the program has spiked in recent years because of an increased focus on diagnosing people with HIV and linking them to care. Without a budget passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, the state will be unable to provide vital HIV medications to those in need of this essential service.
If there is no deal on a budget by July 1, people living with HIV could be forced to go without their antiretroviral medications. Hundreds of people in Illinois will become sick and unable to work. Some could even die. There are 1,800 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Illinois every year; that number could spike even further if those in need do not receive the medications they rely on.
Take action right now. Pressure the governor and legislators to declare ADAP an essential service, which would allow the program to continue without during a shutdown. Sign this petition to show your support for declaring ADAP an essential service. Share this information with everyone you know — co-workers, clients, friends, faith community members — and ask them to fight for people who rely upon the ADAP program.
