Ryan White

The Ryan White CARE Act addresses the unmet needs of HIV/AIDS patients across the United States. In addition to providing formula based grants to the states, Ryan White also funds Emergency Services; Early Intervention; Women, Infants, Children, and Youth; AIDS Education and Training; and Dental Reimbursement programs. The Ryan White program is administered by the HIV/AIDS Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration within the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

On Saturday, December 9, 2006, President Bush signed H.R. 6143 which reauthorizes the Ryan White CARE Act. The most controversial element of the bill was a redesign of the funding formula. The new formula attempts to redirect funds to rural areas that are experiencing increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS cases but this would result in urban areas receiving less. The approved compromise language does reallocate funds to rural areas but limits the amount urban areas or states with large urban centers can lose. The legislation has provisions that states cannot receive less than 95 percent of the funds they received in 2006. Another key element is that the funds will follow the person regardless of where they live or how the data are reported.

In regards to housing services, the bill includes provisions which require that 75 percent of CARE Act funds be used for “core medical services.” Housing is not a core medical service but can be funded with the remaining 25 percent of funds. This reauthorization will last only three years.