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Is the US AIDS drug assistance program cost-effective?
Steven D Pinkerton1, Jennifer Kibicho, Carol L Galletly
1Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 North Summit Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA. pinkrton@mcw.edu
AIDS and Behavior
|October 12, 2012
Summary
The US AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) provides vital HIV medications, preventing infections and improving lives. This program is cost-effective, saving lives and reducing HIV transmission.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- The US AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) provides essential antiretroviral drugs to over 110,000 individuals with HIV lacking adequate insurance.
- Effective antiretroviral therapy enhances the quality of life for people living with HIV (PLWH), prolongs their lifespan, and reduces HIV transmission rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the US AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
- To quantify the impact of ADAP in preventing secondary HIV infections and saving quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
Main Methods:
- A mathematical model was employed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the ADAP program.
- The model analyzed the outcomes of providing antiretrovirals to underinsured individuals living with HIV.
Main Results:
- In 2008, ADAP prevented an estimated 3,191 secondary HIV infections.
- The program saved 24,922 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
- The net cost per QALY saved was $11,955.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that the ADAP program is a cost-effective intervention by conventional standards.
- ADAP demonstrates significant public health benefits through reduced HIV transmission and improved patient outcomes.
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