′Ryan White′ Program Signed By Obama

October 30, 2009

A Proven Success In Preventing, Detecting & Treating HIV AIDS

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. went to the White House on Friday for the "Ryan White" bill-signing ceremony with President Barack Obama and others.A proven success in helping to prevent, detect and treat HIV AIDS, the Ryan White program provides substantial support for state and local services, cash-strapped agencies that interact directly with AIDS patients.

"A lot of progress has been made in the battle against HIV/AIDS, and now we will be able to keep up the fight," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., sponsor of the bill.  "There are still more than one million people living with the virus and 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In New Jersey,  there are close to 51,000 people infected."

Named after the Indiana teenager whose public fight against HIV/AIDS helped lift the ignorance and discrimination surrounding the disease, the Ryan White program will now be permanent. Until this bill, the program had periodic sunset dates that caused disruptions in care.

"All the RyanWhite programs throughout the country have been in desperate need of increased funding for the past three years," said Pallone. "Modern medical advancements have made it possible for more individuals to live full lives despite an HIV/AIDS diagnosis, which means that there are more individuals living with the disease and in need of services.  At the same time, we are experiencing a steady increase in the cost of providing that medical care."

The reauthorization includes a home-harmless provision to minimize the impact of inconsistent grants, a provision to help local agencies meet reporting requirements and an increase of five percent in the reimbursement rate.

Approximately $2.1 billion has gone to the program, with New Jersey receiving a little more than $81 million, since it was started by Congress in 1990, shortly after the death of Ryan White at age 19.
 
(To learn more about Ryan White:  http://hab.hrsa.gov/about/ryanwhite.htm)

(The Ryan White Program in New Jersey:  http://www.state.nj.us/health/aids/contact.shtml)