May 26, 2009
AIDS Alliance Urges Congress to Increase Funding for Ryan White Part D
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Washington, D.C. – AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families asked Congress to provide a $5 million increase in funding for Part D of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in a letter sent to key lawmakers this week.
Letter to follow:
May 25, 2009
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The Honorable Tom Harkin
Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education
Senate Appropriations Committee
131 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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The Honorable Thad Cochran
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education
Senate Appropriations Committee
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
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The Honorable David Obey
Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education
House Appropriations Committee
2358-B Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 |
The Honorable Todd Tiahrt
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education
House Appropriations Committee
2441 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 |
Dear Chairman Harkin, Ranking Member Cochran, Chairman Obey, and Ranking Member Tiahrt:
The AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families, is extremely disappointed that President Obama's FY2010 budget indicates no increase in funding for Part D of the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act. We respectfully request that Congress provide a modest $5 million increase in funding in 2010 with a provision that the majority of this increase be directed to existing Part D programs.
We are keenly aware of the challenges the current economic climate pose and we understand that there are many competing priorities. However, existing Part D programs have not received an increase in funding for the last five years. In the 2009 appropriation, Part D did receive a $3 million increase; however, the HRSA AIDS Bureau directed that all of the increase be given to start new programs. No existing Part D grantees received any of these funds. While we support opening new programs in communities in need, at the same time existing programs are facing increased demands for their services as a result of more testing and a greater number of families living with fewer resources. Our members have laid off staff, reduced services and cannot provide high quality services to HIV infected women, children, youth and families without a modest funding increase in FY2010.
Services provided under Part D are not covered by insurance and they are critical to keeping families in care, maintaining adherence to medications, and preventing new infections. Inadequate funding for Part D endangers the health of HIV-affected women, youth and families, reinforces gender-related health disparities, and ultimately could result in reversing progress made in the war against mother to child transmission of HIV.
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families was established in 1994 to give voice to the needs of women, children, youth, and families living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. AIDS Alliance members are health care providers, researchers, administrators, and consumers living with HIV and AIDS who are the backbone of local HIV/AIDS care and prevention for women, children, youth, and families. We urge Congress to fund the Part D program at an additional $5 million, as also requested by the National Women and AIDS Collective and the U.S. Positive Women's Network (PWN), the CAEAR Coalition, and the AIDS Budget and Appropriations Committee (ABAC).
Respectfully,
Alelia Munroe
Board President
