Hhs Awards $1.07 Billion For Hiv/Aids Care And Medications
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced Grants totaling almost $1.07 billion to fund HIV/AIDS-related primary health care, prescription drugs and other services for low-income individuals living in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and five other U.S. territories and jurisdictions have been anouced by the U.s. Department of Health and Human Services.
The grants are funded under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act, which is administered by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration.
Most of the Title II awards, $779.8 million, support life-sustaining medications through state-run AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). In addition to the base award of $272.3 million, $6.9 million supports health care and services to minority populations under the Minority AIDS Initiative, and $10 million supports “emerging communities” — those with a high incidence of AIDS that did not receive FY 2006 Title I awards, which were announced March 14.
Base Title II grants are awarded based on the estimated number of people living with AIDS. Since FY 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 base allotment to support ADAPs. Minority AIDS Initiative awards reflect the number of minorities living with HIV/AIDS in the area over a two-year period, while the emerging communities funds go to areas that report between 500 and 1,999 cases of AIDS.
