HHS Secretary Thompson Announces $24.1 Million in Ryan White Title IV Grants
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday announced $24.1 million in grants for HIV/AIDS care and services for women, children and their families, according to an HHS release. The 35 new grants were awarded under Title IV of the Ryan White CARE Act, which covers care and services for HIV-positive people and their families, including primary and secondary medical services, psychological care, logistical support, outreach and case management. In addition, Title IV programs are designed to help increase patients' access to clinical trials and treatment research. "[T]he number of women contracting HIV continues to grow, especially in racial and ethnic minority communities," Thompson said, adding, "These grants will help ensure that care is available where needed for these women and their families." Elizabeth Duke, administrator of HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, said that the grants "help build a comprehensive health care system for our clients," who often are also dealing with "poor housing, lack of transportation and child care [and] non-HIV related illnesses," which "all intensify the need for services." The government has spent more than $7.7 billion on CARE Act programs since 2001, and President Bush requested almost $2.1 billion for the programs for fiscal year 2005 (HHS release, 8/24).
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