健康英语新闻:Florida HIV/AIDS patients in dispute with health authorities over medication funding

On Wednesday, EJAF's executive director Scott Campbell called on its supporters to sign a petition to Florida Governor Rick Scott to urge him to block the proposed changes to Florida's ADAP program.

Earlier in June, Elton John and EJAF chairman David Furnish, in an article published in Florida newspapers, said that "a better proposal would be to fully fund ADAP for all those who need but can not afford treatment."

Thirteen of the 50 American states have waiting lists for the respective and equivalent ADAP programs for HIV/AIDS afflicted individuals. Florida has the most people on its waiting list. Wyoming is the state with the least, as only five people are on its waiting list.

Florida politicians are trying to get this topic to be one worthy of discussion on a nation-wide scale so that it could cause concern for federal government officials and politicians - chiefly among them, President Barack Obama.

In a late January, 2011 letter to Obama, senior Senator Bill Nelson of Florida said that federal funding for the ADAP program is not enough to ensure the program's viability during this period of economic turmoil. "I therefore urge you to demonstrate your commitment to ensuring that HIV/AIDS patients have access to the medication that they need by requesting an increase in ADAP funding in your upcoming budget proposal,"he wrote.

Over 400 emails have been received at the Florida Governor's Office, from people writing about their concerns as to whether or not the FDH will proceed to make the changes to the financial eligibility requirements of the state's ADAP program, according to Lane Wright, spokesman for Governor Scott.