HHS Awards $2.34 Billion in Grants to Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Approximately $2.34 billion in grants were awarded to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in fiscal year 2018, HHS announced today. According to the agency, cities, counties, states, and local community-based organizations were recipients of this year’s grants, which helped support access to HIV primary care, medication, and essential support services to people living with HIV in the United States.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides treatment and services to low-income people living with HIV and is critical for improving health outcomes among this vulnerable population. Serving as a safety net for approximately 50% of those living with diagnosed HIV in the United States, the program serves an important role in gaining hold of the epidemic as it provides access to antiretroviral medication and other HIV treatment. In 2016, approximately 85% of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program users were virally suppressed, up from 69% in 2010.

“New medical advances and broader access to treatment have helped transform HIV/AIDS from a likely death sentence into a manageable chronic disease,” recognized HHS Secretary Alex Azar in a statement. “The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is an important way to ensure that these life-saving treatments reach the Americans who need them, and the Trump administration is committed to continuing to improve the care by Americans living with HIV/AIDS receive.”

Under Part A of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, approximately $624.3 million was granted to 52 metropolitan areas with the highest numbers of people living with HIV and AIDS and experiencing increases in HIV and AIDS cases in order to provide primary medical and support services for these patients.

Another $1.4 billion, under Part B of the program, was awarded to 59 states and territories to enhance quality, availability, and organization of HIV healthcare and support services. Sixteen states also received Emerging Community grants based on the number of AIDS cases over the last 5 years, and 33 states and territories were granted $10.5 million in Part B Minority AIDS Initiative grants.

Other grants through parts C, D, and F of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program awarded funds to local community-based organizations to provide family-centered, comprehensive HIV care and treatment for women, infants, children, and youth; support clinical training, oral health services, quality improvement, and the development of innovative models of care through different programs; and cooperative agreements and contracts to support education and training of healthcare professionals.

“The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program plays a vital role in the United States’ public health response to ending the HIV epidemic,” said George Sigounas, MS, PhD, HRSA Administrator, who oversees the program, in a statement. “These grants will help ensure that the most vulnerable Americans living with HIV/AIDS have access to live-saving care and treatment needed to improve their health quality and medical outcomes.”