Aid for AIDS

AIDS Treatment Access Program

Description | Medical Criteria | Enrollment Requirements | Benefits | Coverage Termination

Application Form: English | Español

ATAP is a program designed to provide free antiretroviral (ARV) therapy to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who do not have access to health care coverage and cannot afford the cost of their treatment in developing countries around the world. It also provides them, as well as their health care providers, HIV/AIDS treatment planning and medication resource management. Applicant’s cases go through a medical and socio-economic evaluation process in order to establish their eligibility and the best regimen available according to case-by-case study. Once the case is reviewed and a regimen established, the approved medications are provided to the ATAP beneficiary in their native country free of costs. ATAP’s first objective is to try to implement the best possible therapy for each case. The evaluation process includes a work in conjunction with their treating physicians and our medical team in order to find the best treatment plan for every patient. Once the case is approved, we guarantee a sustainable advanced supply of medication in order to assure continuous provision of ARVs to its beneficiaries. In an effort to achieve better coverage, ATAP also provides counseling and adherence training to each one of its beneficiaries and continuing educational support to the patient’s physician.

In order to provide specific and targeted assistance based on regional differences, ATAP is composed of three sub-programs designed with specific attention to geographic and cultural differences.

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In addition to providing medical guidance and educational support, ATAP works in conjunction with the “Medical Training Program” offering a series of medical training and seminars in various countries, training health care professionals in the practical guidance and management of the HIV/AIDS patient. ATAP also provides trainings to educators, activists and people living with HIV/AIDS in order to have better understanding of where HIV/AIDS stands today. This educational program provides workshops on HIV/AIDS management and complications in several Latin American countries.

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ATAP Enrollment Medical Criteria

To qualify for ATAP, patients must certify that they meet the medical criteria for starting ARV medication. In most cases, patients must meet the AIDS defining criteria or indicators of the need to initiate treatment according to international guidelines such as those of the WHO, DHHS and IAS-USA. However, the final decision as to whether a patient is eligible for starting ARVs should come from case-by-case discussions between our medical team and the applicant’s treating physicians.

As a general guideline, the CD4 count is the most important indicator of the need to start treatment, but, as a general rule, treatment is highly suggested to patients with 200 cells or less and/or viral load over 100,000 copies/ml and/or the presence of one or more opportunistic infections and/or a rapid (accelerated) CD4 count decline. Treatment is offered to patients that show a CD4 count between 200 and 350/mm or below 14%. Factors that influence the decision to treat within the range of CD4 200-350/mm are the viral load, CD4 trajectory, older age, proximity of CD4 count to 200/mm, presence of opportunistic processes, patient’s readiness and transmission risk factors (IDU vs.). It is known through clinical trials that patients starting treatment early show better prognosis over time and a decreased chance of progression to AIDS.

In the event that the patient already initiated and currently is on ARV therapy and cannot continue it due to medication provision difficulties, we can help providing the same therapy as long as he or she continues to have a medical indication for it.

All of these conditions must be proven with copies of original lab results and/or medical or hospital reports. These results and reports must not be older than 6 months prior to the application date.

Please note that patients with higher CD4 counts and/or lower Viral Load levels than required for initiation of drug therapy, and/or the absence of opportunistic infections that are not currently on ARV treatment can also be eligible for ARV therapy as long as they show proof of having achieved such conditions by being on ARV drug therapy and that they discontinuation was merely due to supply complications.

Other conditions for accessing the ARV coverage are:

• Clients must not have any other source of medication coverage. These include governmental Institutions, national programs, social security, private funds or foundations, private insurance or coverage from any other source and the lack of economic means to purchase the medication.
• Applicants must have a treating doctor for the HIV or AIDS status.
• Periodic submission of results of CD4 count, Viral Load and medical reports is required in order to maintain coverage and continuity of the drug supply. One every 6 months (biannually)

ATAP Enrollment Requirements
Benefits
Coverage Termination Criteria

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Continuing Support

Applicants whose case has been approved as well as their treating physicians can always contact us for any type of educational assistance either regarding their particular case or any other HIV/AIDS related topic. They can call us directly or even better, post their questions through an email. They will be addressed during normal business hours (9AM to 5PM) once the case is studied.
It is very important that you remember we are here to help you improve you quality of life!

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ATAP Enrollment Requirements:

If applicants or their physicians think they qualify for the ATAP coverage and meet the medical criteria, then applicants must submit the required documentation in order to proof their case. They include:

• 1)- Application form properly and legibly filled out, if possible in a typed format. Please provide the entirety of the information requested for a better processing and understanding of your case;
• 2)- A detailed medical history regarding the HIV/AIDS status or any other relevant current or past medical condition worth mentioning plus a detailed history of previous ARV regimens and the reasons for the change;
• 3)- Copies of the original CD4 count and Viral Load results, they must not be older than 6 months. It is also strongly encouraged (but not mandatory) to submit results of liver function tests, renal function, pancreatic enzymes, lipid profiles, complete blood count, VDRL test, tuberculin skin testing and toxoplasma antibodies. We highly advice that women as well as men have a pap smear performed,
• 4)- Prescription for all the drugs requested by your treating doctor.
• 5)- A copy of any official photo ID showing the name of the applicant.

Applicants must be aware that case processing is expedited once we have the entirety of the documents requested. Also, the approval of the case depends on drug availability at the time of the applicant’s review. If, at that time, the drug requested isn’t available, the ATAP medical team will work on another comparable regimen that would be as effective and discuss this with the applicant’s treating doctor before processing.

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Benefits:

Once the case is approved, applicants will receive their monthly ARV medication at no cost. They will also receive an evaluation over the requested regimen and its possible impact on their particular case. Applicants will also receive a follow-up on their therapeutic response to the approved regimen. If complications should emerge, we have a medical team available so that the applicant or their treating doctor can contact us to get help reviewing the case and making suggestion of possible solutions to the problem. Case studies arising from such situations will also serve as a learning method to all the participating doctors that request our help. Patients residing in countries where we have offices can also benefit from a support group and consoling services provided locally. We currently have offices in Panama, Dominican Republic, Peru, Venezuela and Chile.

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Coverage Termination Criteria

If patients fall into any of the following criteria, their coverage will be terminated and they will no longer receive medications or medical support from us.

• 1- Patients that put their donated medications to a bad use such as repeated non-compliance to the treatment, commercialization of the medications, re-donation of the medications to a third party. Repeated poor adherence will also be considered a violation of the treatment and can also result in discontinuation of the coverage.
• 2- Non-compliance to the follow up and the provision of a bi-annual medical report and CD4 count and Viral Load results.
• 3- Non-compliance to cooperation in the working and follow up of your case, the provision of requested documents necessary to a case evaluation or information regarding the management of your case.
• 4- If the patient has obtained any other source of medications (this includes form national or local programs, private health insurance or private funds or any other recycling program.

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