Uninsured HIV-positive people with low incomes may begin using a single common form to apply for multiple antiretroviral assistance programs, which was announced by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in July at the XIX International AIDS Conference and went into effect on September 12. The Common Patient Assistance Program Application is the result of partnerships between HHS’ Health Resources and Service Administration and seven major HIV drug-producing pharmaceutical companies. Whereas people living with HIV and their health care providers have long had to complete multiple sets of paperwork to be filed with different drug companies, Sebelius explained that the new common application “streamlines and simplifies the process, reduces barriers to medication access and speeds access to lifesaving drugs.” The National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) assisted in the development and implementation of the application.

To read the HHS announcement, click here.

To access the Common Patient Assistance Program Application, click here.