Federal health officials are touting $1.4 billion in funding for national programs that assist low-income Americans living with HIV in obtaining their necessary medications and health care. It comes as the 2024 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment kicks off in Washington, D.C.
Timed with the start of the HIV confab that has drawn 6,500 people to the nation's capital, the Health Resources and Services Administration Tuesday morning announced the new allocation in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and HIV health care and support services under what is known as Ryan White's Part B.
"When we talk about affordable medications, one of our top priorities at the Health Resources and Services Administration is making sure that everyone we care for who is living with HIV gets the antiretroviral therapy they need to live a long and healthy life. We know what works and we know how to reach the communities that need these drugs — we just need to make sure they are affordable," stated HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. "That's what our HRSA Ryan White Program delivers every day in communities across this country. We make lifesaving and life-sustaining medications and treatments affordable and accessible for individuals with HIV who struggle to pay for this care."
While the Bay Area Reporter initially had been told that Johnson had allotted time for media interviews Monday afternoon, a HRSA spokesperson said she was unavailable due to her preparations for the speech she is giving at the HIV conference. The gathering's theme is "Innovating to End the HIV Epidemic: Empowering Communities, Expanding Partnerships, Implementing Interventions."
According to the breakdown of the funding released August 20, California is receiving $101,654,726 in ADAP funding and $155,440,630 for Part B programs. In 2023, California received an ADAP award of $101,663,845 and a total Part B award of $151,644,223.
The information isn't broken down by Eligible Metropolitan Area. HRSA officials didn't respond Monday to the B.A.R.'s question about what the area comprising San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties is receiving.
ADAP helps cover the cost of people's HIV medication, including their copays and co-insurance costs, and the premiums for health insurance that covers HIV medication. More than 500,000 people, over half of those diagnosed with HIV in the U.S., receive Ryan White services each year.
Without the program's financial assistance, HIV medication could cost an individual more than $40,000 per year, putting it otherwise out of reach, noted federal health officials. HRSA falls under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"This funding makes it possible for people with HIV to access life-saving medication and treatment that are proven to improve health outcomes, reduce HIV transmission, and save lives," stated HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, who announced the Ryan White funds during her remarks at the opening plenary of the HIV conference. "We are incredibly proud of the department's leadership of the federal effort to end the HIV epidemic in the United States and advance the Biden-Harris Administration's National HIV/AIDS Strategy."
Because of San Francisco's success in stemming new HIV infections over the last decade, it has seen its share of Ryan White funds decrease as the program's funding formula prioritizes areas of the country where HIV is not locally under control. According to the city's recently released 2023 HIV Semi-Annual Surveillance Report, there were 132 new HIV diagnoses in San Francisco in 2023, a decrease of 22% from 2022 when there were 167 new HIV diagnoses. (The numbers are preliminary and could increase when the official report for 2023 is published this fall.)
Last year, according to a former leader of the city's HIV/AIDS Provider Network, San Francisco's allocation from the federal Ryan White program was $16 million, with the city kicking in $24 million in local funds to maintain the full amount for Ryan White HIV services in the city at $40 million, as the B.A.R. noted last July.
In May, Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) had announced San Francisco would see $1.6 million in Ryan White funding this year, as the B.A.R. had reported. Nonetheless, in the city's budget, Mayor London Breed and the supervisors used local revenues to backfill the $197,850 reduction San Francisco received this year in its Ryan White Part A funding.
The HIV conference is held biennially and happens to coincide this year with the Democratic National Conference taking place in Chicago. At it, Vice President Kamala Harris will formally become her party's presidential nominee.
If elected, Harris is expected to continue to support the country's various HIV and AIDS programs. HRSA supports critical HIV care and medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and six U.S. Pacific territories.
Last December 1, on World AIDS Day, the Biden-Harris administration recommitted itself to the country's National HIV/AIDS Strategy. One of its goals is to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
A key strategy toward ending the HIV endemic in the country is helping people living with HIV access antiretroviral therapies and reach viral suppression of the disease. Doing so means they are unable to sexually transmit HIV and can live longer and healthier lives, note federal health officials.
In 2022, 89.6% of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients receiving medical care were virally suppressed, compared to 69.5% in 2010, according to HRSA.
"Going forward, we are committed to continuing this work and reach even more individuals who are not yet engaged in care but need this vital help," stated Johnson.
For a full list of fiscal year 2024 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part B and AIDS Drug Assistance Program award recipients, click here.
For more information about HRSA's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, visit ryanwhite.hrsa.gov.
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