HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the award of $845.7 million to help poor and uninsured individuals with HIV/AIDS obtain primary care, support services and life-sustaining medications.
The fiscal year 2001 grants -- funded under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act -- will be shared by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
The new grants include a $267 million base award; $571.3 million to buy medications through state-run AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs); and $7 million under the Congressional Black Caucus Initiative. These funds will support educational and outreach services to help disproportionately impacted communities of color improve their participation in ADAPs.
"The striking increase in federal dollars for AIDS medications since 1996 -- from $56 million to $571 million today -- underscores the fact that new drug treatments have vastly improved individuals' lives," said Secretary Thompson.
Title II grants are based on a calculation of the estimated number of people living with AIDS in the state or territory. Since fiscal year 1996, separate funds have been earmarked under Title II to help state ADAPs buy pharmaceuticals for people living with HIV/AIDS. States also may designate a portion of their base grant to support ADAPs. Approximately 125,800 people received medications through ADAPs in fiscal year 2000.
"Title II grants help ensure that essential primary care and medications reach poor and uninsured Americans -- particularly those in minority populations most impacted by HIV/AIDS," said Joseph F. O'Neill, M.D., M.P.H., associate administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration's HIV/AIDS Bureau, which oversees the CARE Act.
Since the CARE Act was first funded in fiscal year 1991, $4.1 billion has been awarded for Title II grants, including $2.1 billion in ADAP funding. A list of the fiscal year 2001 Title II grant awards is available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/Newsroom/releases/2001%20Releases/hivII.htm
HRSA is the lead agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in improving access to health care for individuals and families nationwide.
