Hhs Awards $1 Billion To Help People With Hiv/Aids
Grants of $1 billion to states and territories to provide medical care, support services and prescription drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS have been awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Fiscal year 2003 awards include $289 million in basic awards based on the number of people living with AIDS in each state or territory and $693 million for the purchase of medications through state-run AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs).
In addition, the award includes $7 million under the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) and $10 million for states with “emerging communities” — metropolitan areas with significant populations of people living with AIDS. An additional $21.4 million in grants for the Supplemental Drug Treatment Program will be awarded later. The grants are funded under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act.
“With this year’s increase in ADAP funds, we expect to help 159,000 low-income people living with HIV/AIDS obtain the medications they need to stay healthy,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.
Title II grants are awarded to every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Republic of Palau.
Basic grants are awarded based on the estimated number of people living with AIDS in a 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 Title II basic allotment to support ADAPs.
The MAI award is based on the number of minorities living with HIV/AIDS in the area over a two-year period. The emerging communities funds go to metropolitan areas that report between 500 and 1,999 cases of AIDS but did not receive Title I grants awarded last month.
Emerging communities funds are used to bolster HIV-related health care and services for these individuals.
CARE Act programs help an estimated 530,000 poor and uninsured individuals with HIV/AIDS obtain primary health care, support services and life-sustaining medications each year.
Since the Act was first funded in fiscal year 1991, $13.6 billion has been awarded to provide needed health care and associated services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
