The State - News from Jan. 14, 1988

The incoming president of the California Medical Assn. says the $70.1 million earmarked for AIDS programs in Gov. George Deukmejian’s 1988-89 state budget is inadequate. “A more realistic budget for AIDS would be about three times that,” said Dr. Lauren White, a San Francisco cancer specialist. White said the number of victims of acquired immune deficiency syndrome is continuing to increase, that treatment currently runs $25,000 a year or more per patient, and that about 30% of all AIDS patients end up on Medi-Cal rolls. But Deukmejian’s budget doesn’t take into account this extra caseload, White said. Deukmejian has said he would consider boosting funding for AIDS if it is clear that the additional money can be used effectively.