Connecticut Congressional Delegation Asks for Special Consideration in Ryan White Program Supplemental Funding Allocations

Connecticut's congressional delegation on Friday in a letter to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt asked that the state receive special consideration when $43 million in Ryan White Program supplemental funds are allocated next month, the Hartford Courant reports. The letter was signed by Sens. Chris Dodd (D) and Joe Lieberman (I), as well as Reps. Christopher Shays (R), Rosa DeLauro (D), Joe Courtney (D), John Larson (D) and Chris Murphy (D). According to the state's congressional delegation, Connecticut's Ryan White funding was reduced by about $725,000 this month under the Ryan White Reauthorization Bill (HR 6143), which President Bush signed in December 2006. Administrators of HIV/AIDS programs in Hartford and New Haven, Conn., have said that the funding reductions for HIV/AIDS services have been more than the $725,000. Hartford received about half of the $4 million it had expected, and New Haven received $3.3 million of the $6.6 million it had expected, the Courant reports (Waldman, Hartford Courant, 3/24). According to the AP/Long Island Newsday, the Ryan White funding reductions will limit access to housing, transportation, drug treatment and other services among HIV-positive people in the state. Although supplemental funding will offset some of the funding cuts next month, about 80 cities nationwide are competing for a portion of the $43 million available, the AP/Newsday reports. According to Tina Cheatham, a Health Resources and Services Administration spokesperson, Ryan White funding formulas were changed this year to provide increased funding for cities with higher numbers of AIDS cases. The new formula provides more funds to cities that reported at least 2,000 new AIDS cases from 2001 to 2005. Hartford reported 1,132 AIDS cases during that time, and New Haven reported 1,749, which categorized both cities into lower funding tiers, AP/Newsday reports (AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/24).