Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2008

Schumer Announces Over $102 Million In Ryan White Aids Funding For New York City

Despite Drop in Annual Diagnoses, Increased Lifespan of HIV/AIDS Patients Has Led to Record Number of Cases in New York City , Increasing Demand on Gov't Health Programs

Critical Funds Can be Used for Prescription Drugs, Outpatient Health Care, Home Health and Hospice Care, Nutrition Services, and Transportation Services

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced $102,430,205 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Part A of the Ryan White CARE Act for New York City . With the total number of those living with HIV/AIDS at a record high in New York, the city will be able to use the much-needed funds for outpatient health care, home health and hospice care, nutrition services, case management, and transportation services for persons with AIDS.

“As increasing numbers of people with HIV/AIDS live longer, the cost of care and treatment places greater demands on families and friends, as well as local governments and community-based organizations,” Schumer said. “This critical Ryan White CARE Act funding will ensure that New York City has the necessary resources to care for those with HIV/AIDS.”

The $102,430,205 in funding announced today by HHS comprises approximately 16% of the total Ryan White Part A funding for the country, which is set at $627,149,000. It also marks an increase over the 2007 funding of $100,865,580.

New York City remains the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic nationally, with an estimated 99,000 New Yorkers diagnosed and known to be living with HIV or AIDS at the end of 2006. In 2006 alone the number of reported new AIDS cases was 3,672. In addition, New York also has a complex epidemic where people living with HIV and AIDS have a higher percentage of co-morbidities (such as serious mental health problems, intravenous drug use, and other sexually transmitted diseases) and persons with AIDS who live in extreme poverty.

The Ryan White CARE Act was originally signed into law in 1990, and since 1991 has made federal funding available to both cities and states to provide a number of health care services for HIV and AIDS patients, including medical care, drug treatments, dental care, home health care, and outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. The CARE Act has played a leading role in improving the health and quality of life for New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS.

Part A of the Ryan White CARE Act provides grants to 56 localities, including Puerto Rico , that are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. To be eligible for Part A funding, these localities must have a minimum population of 500,000 people with at least 2,000 cumulative AIDS cases reported during the last five years. These funds are then administered by planning councils made up of local residents living with HIV/AIDS, social service providers, mental health and substance abuse providers, public health agencies, hospitals, health care planning agencies, HIV prevention providers, and housing and homeless service providers.

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