American Notes CONGRESS

Congress last year created a $30 million emergency fund for AIDS patients who were unable to afford the high cost (about $8,000 a year) of AZT, the only FDA-approved drug known to prolong their lives. It did so on the unusual condition that the measure's sponsors would not try to renew the funding. For the 6,000 beneficiaries so far, a new crisis is at hand: although various states still have some of this money left, the federal program will end on Sept. 30 and a new grant is doubtful.

The unhappy option for the patients is to reduce their income and assets enough (to less than $5,200 a year in income and $3,100 in assets in New York, for example) to qualify for state Medicaid coverage. Unless Washington has a change of heart, each of the 50 states must act to fill the void or the lack of cash may shorten thousands of lives.