HIV treatment cuts threaten Black communities as 18 states reduce drug assistance programs
Written by Site Hub on March 25, 2026
Source: Essence / BLK Alerts Published: March 23, 2026
As of March 2026, at least 18 states have reduced or restricted access to AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, with five more states considering similar changes. The programs, funded through the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, help roughly 300,000 Americans living with HIV afford life-saving medications that can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year. Enrollment in ADAP programs has surged roughly 30 percent in recent years as many Americans lost Medicaid coverage when pandemic-era protections expired. Average ACA premiums rose roughly 26 percent between 2025 and 2026, leaving more people unable to afford coverage. David J. Johns, CEO of the National Black Justice Collective, said the changes could interrupt treatment for thousands of people across the country, adding that Black communities are disproportionately bearing the cost of those policy decisions.
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