HHS awards more than $1 billion in AIDS grants

The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday released more than $1 billion in AIDS funds to U.S. states and territories for Ryan White-backed AIDS programs and AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. The approximately $1 billion in 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. The grants also include $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. "Today's grants will extend the availability of needed medications to even more people living with HIV/AIDS," said Elizabeth Duke, administrator of HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration.