Massachusetts HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP)

The Massachusetts HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP) provides access to critical HIV-related medications for residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are otherwise unable to obtain these life-saving drugs. A program of the Office of HIV/AIDS of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health funded through federal and state sources, HDAP is administered by CRI.

HDAP is designed to provide access to medications to clients in need. In order to be eligible for HDAP, an individual must be HIV-positive and living in Massachusetts. To enroll, an individual must also meet income eligibility guidelines, set at a level that recognizes both the high cost and number of HIV-related medications an individual with HIV/AIDS may need, as well as the high cost of living in Massachusetts.

HDAP is among the nation’s most complete drug assistance programs for people living with HIV. HDAP can pay for medications and drug co-pays, private non-group health insurance premiums and premium co-pays, HIV resistance testing (genotype and virtual phenotype lab tests), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for potential non-occupational exposures to HIV.

By law, HDAP is a “payer of last resort;” this means that program enrollees must show that they have applied to other entitlement programs (such as Medicaid/MassHealth, Medicare, etc.) at the time of their HDAP application. Undocumented Massachusetts residents are eligible for HDAP.

HDAP plays a crucial role in providing resources to a diverse population who may otherwise lack access to HIV-related medications. More than half of HDAP enrollees are from communities of color; approximately three-quarters of HDAP clients have incomes of less than 200% of the federal poverty level.

This program is supported by funds from the U.S. Public Health Service/Health Resources and Services Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Boston Public Health Commission AIDS Program through Title I of the Ryan White CARE Act, and is administered by Community Research Initiative of New England (CRI).