HHS awards $1 billion in Ryan White grants for medical care, ADAPs

Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday announced $1 billion in Ryan White grants to help provide medical care, support services, and HIV antiretroviral drugs to Americans with HIV/AIDS. The grants include $289 million in basic awards to states based on the number of people living with AIDS in each state, and $693 million for the purchase of anti-HIV drugs through state-run AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. Another $7 million is allocated to the Minority AIDS Initiative, and $10 million is earmarked for states with "emerging HIV communities," mostly large urban areas with growing numbers of HIV/AIDS cases. "Poverty, unfortunately, is a common symptom of AIDS, but these grants to states will help us ensure that people with AIDS can get needed care and services," said Thompson in announcing the federal grants. "When insurance runs out, when savings are depleted, or when disability checks are needed to buy groceries instead of prescriptions, patients can turn to the programs funded by these grants to get life-sustaining medical treatment."