State gets $1 million for HIV/AIDS meds

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced that price concessions negotiated from drug manufacturers will bring the state an additional $1 million for its drug assistance program for people with HIV and AIDS. As part of the agreement, which was worked out by state HIV/AIDS directors from throughout the country and including Illinois, the various rebates, price freezes and discounts are back-dated to purchases from as early as July 2003 and are to be effective until March 30, 2005. The Illinois Department of Public Health administers the state's $35 million AIDS Drug Assistance Program. "This is a good program," said Craig Beintema, administrator of the Bureau County Health Department. "It targets people with low incomes for drug assi