| HHS
Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday announced that the agency has awarded
more than $1 billion to states and territories for fiscal year 2004 to
fight HIV/AIDS, including funds for state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs,
according to an HHS release
(HHS release, 4/1). ADAPs -- which are supported with both state and federal
funds -- provide HIV/AIDS-related medications to low-income, uninsured
and underinsured HIV-positive individuals. As of January, 15 states have
waiting lists or access restrictions for their ADAP programs, according
to an "ADAP Watch" released by the National
Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (Kaiser
Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/22). The approximately $1 billion in FY
2004 grants, which are funded under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act,
include $285 million in basic awards based on the number of individuals
living with AIDS in each state and territory and $728 million for ADAPs
to purchase antiretroviral drugs, according to the release. The award also
includes $7 million for the Minority
AIDS Initiative and $10 million for states with "emerging communities"
-- defined as metropolitan areas with large numbers of individuals living
with AIDS. An additional $21 million in grants will be awarded at a later
date for the Supplemental Drug Treatment Program. "Every year, programs
funded by the CARE Act help more than 530,000 individuals access life-sustaining
care and services," Elizabeth Duke, administrator of HHS' Health
Resources and Services Administration, said, adding, "Today's grants
will extend the availability of needed medications to even more people
living with HIV/AIDS" (HHS release, 4/1). |
