Legislation provides life-saving care and support for 500,000 Americans living with HIV and AIDS

The House of Representatives passed legislation to strengthen the Ryan White program which provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million Americans living with HIV and AIDS – most of whom are low-income.  The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act passed by a large, bipartisan vote of 408 to 9.

“The Ryan White Program has been serving Americans living with HIV and AIDS for nearly 20 years,” said Rep. Levin.  “Strengthening this program will bring help to more people and maintain our commitment to HIV/AIDS patients while we continue to search for a cure.”

First established in 1990, the Ryan White Program has made it easier for HIV/AIDS patients to afford the costly medical treatments they need. Today’s extension will increase the authorization level for each part of the program by 5% a year for the next 4 years to ensure that there is continued access to vital health benefits for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Americans. It also makes investments to improve care in regions of the country with the highest rates of HIV/AIDS, and helps to eliminate disparities in access to care among racial and ethnic groups.

Each year, over 50,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS are reported. 1.1 million Americans are currently living with HIV or AIDS.
More information on the legislation available below.


The legislation increases the authorization amounts of each of the Ryan White Program’s five areas by 5% a year over the next four years.

Emergency Relief - grants to metropolitan areas with very high numbers of AIDS cases.   These grants fund comprehensive primary care and support services, including home health care, hospice care, housing, transportation and nutrition services.

Comprehensive Care - grants to states for health care and support services for persons with HIV/AIDS.  These grants fund home and community-based health care and support services, and an AIDS drug assistance program.

Early Intervention - grants to public and non-public entities to pay for community-based programs that provide comprehensive primary care services intended to prevent or reduce HIV-related deaths.  The measure requires that grantees provide counseling and information about hepatitis A, B, and C.  It also requires them to develop an electronic information system to improve the ability to report data.

Pediatric AIDS Program - grants to improve and expand primary care and support services for women, infants, or children with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Minority AIDS Initiative - funds efforts to address the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on racial and ethnic minorities and to improve access, treatment, care, and outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities living with HIV/AIDS.

The bill also requires the HHS Secretary to establish a national HIV/AIDS testing goal of 5 million tests per year by January 1, 2010 through federally-supported HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs, both at the CDC and through other federal programs.  The Secretary is required to report to Congress each year on the progress made toward achieving the goal.