HHS Announces 61 Ryan White CARE Act Grants Totaling $45.7 Million
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday announced 61 Ryan White CARE Act grants totaling $45.7 million to help states, territories and communities provide primary care and outpatient services to HIV-positive individuals, according to an HHS release. The grants, which are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, include:- 24 grants totaling $22.6 million under the Ryan White CARE Act Title IV Comprehensive Family Services Program to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS care for women, infants, children, youth and their affected families;
- 17 matching grants totaling $21.4 million under the Title II Supplemental AIDS Drug Assistance Program for 14 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico to provide antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV/AIDS;
- 14 grants totaling $1.4 million under the Title III Capacity Building Program to help organizations bolster current health care delivery systems and expand "high-quality" HIV primary health care services; and
- Six one-year grants totaling $299,058 under the Title III Planning Program to help organizations prepare to provide comprehensive HIV primary health care services.
Thompson said, "President Bush and I are determined to provide the necessary resources to fight HIV/AIDS at home and abroad. These funds provide critical support to the organizations caring for, or planning to care for, some of our most vulnerable populations afflicted with AIDS." HRSA Administrator Elizabeth Duke said, "Today's awards cover a range of activities within America's health care safety net for people living with HIV/AIDS, from planning for services to providing comprehensive care and medications." She added, "These activities continue to strengthen the safety net and make it a model of cost-effective, high-quality primary health care" (HHS release, 7/31). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.