Date: March 27, 1995
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bonnie Aikman, PHS/HRSA (301) 443-3376

$174.8 Million Awarded to States for AIDS Care Costs

HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced the award of $174.8 million in Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency grants to help states pay for health care and services for low-income and uninsured people with HIV or AIDS.

The awards go to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam in amounts that vary according to the severity of AIDS in each jurisdiction.

"These grants demonstrate that the president and HHS are committed to improving access to quality care for people with HIV," Secretary Shalala said.

The awards mark the fifth year of grants under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act, named in memory of the Indiana teen-ager whose battle against AIDS helped raise public awareness of the disease.

Philip R. Lee., M.D., assistant secretary for health and director of the U.S. Public Health Service, said, "Since 1991, $612 million in Title II funds have been awarded to states to meet the needs of thousands of Americans with HIV and AIDS."

The grants support a wide range of services to persons living with HIV disease, among them payment of health insurance premiums for the unemployed and treatments to prolong life or prevent serious deterioration of health.

"Resources made available through Ryan White grants have helped Americans with HIV live longer, more productive lives with dignity while avoiding unnecessary and expensive emergency room use and hospitalization," said Ciro V. Sumaya, M.D., administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA, which administers the Ryan White CARE Act, is one of eight PHS agencies within HHS.

These Title II formula grants are awarded to states based on the number of AIDS cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the two-year period from Oct. 1, 1992, through Sept. 30, 1994.

California, Florida, New York and Texas reported the most AIDS cases for that period and received the largest Title II grant awards.

The Ryan White Act requires that care be directed primarily to low-income and underserved people who do not have insurance and are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or state-funded programs. At least 15 percent of the grant must provide health and support services to infants, children, women and families.

Note to Editors: On March 1, HHS announced $174.7 million in supplemental grants under Title I of the Ryan White CARE Act to 42 metropolitan areas to help them meet the growing care needs of uninsured and underinsured people with AIDS. Although today's dollar amount is similar, the grants awarded today are under Title II and are made to the states. A list of today's Title II Ryan White grants is attached.

Ryan White CARE Act: Title II HIV Care
Fiscal Year 1995 State Grants

###