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U.S. House and Senate Pass Ryan White Extension Act, Ensuring Continued HIV/AIDS Funding

On October 21, Congress passed the Ryan White Extension Act of 2009, which provides for continued funding of HIV/AIDS treatment and other services. The Senate unanimously passed its version of the bill on Monday, and on Wednesday the House of Representatives approved the same legislation by a vote of 408 to 9. The measure now goes to President Obama, who has indicated that he will sign it into law.

"The Administration strongly supports Senate passage of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009," the White House said in a statement issued October 19. "The Ryan White program provides critical health care and related services to uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS. This legislation authorizes appropriations for the program for the next four years."

"The Administration is committed to strengthening access to care for people living with HIV/AIDS," the statement continued. "The legislation reauthorizes all parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and supports continued funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative, the goal of which is to address the disproportionate impact of the disease on racial and ethnic minorities."

To read the full statement.

Below is an announcement issued by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) discussing the benefits of the bill, as well as some omitted items favored by advocates.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act
Passes the U.S. House and U.S. Senate!

President has pledged to sign the bill

Washington, DC -- Wednesday, October 21, 2009 -- Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve H.R. 3792 / S. 1793, the "Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009." Two days ago, on Monday, October 19th, the U.S. Senate voted by unanimous consent (no opposition) to approve the same bill. With the House adopting and voting on the same bill as the Senate, the bill will now be transmitted to the President for his approval. As the White House issued a statement in support of the bill on Monday, approval by the President is all but assured.

While no U.S. Senator voted in opposition to the bill and the bill was approved by unanimous consent, nine Representatives, all Republicans, did vote against Ryan White. Those Congressional Representatives were: Kevin Brady (TX), Paul Brown, (GA), John Duncan (TN), Jeff Flake (AZ), Virginia Foxx (NC), Louie Gohmert (TX), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Ron Paul (TX) and Ted Poe (TX).

NAPWA is asking any PLWHA or HIV service organization who may work/reside in any of those Congressional districts to please contact their Member of Congress and inquire why they voted against one of the most important programs for persons living with HIV in the United States.

Major changes contained in the newly passed bill are:

Four year extension of Ryan White

Elimination of five smaller TGAs [Transitional Grant Areas] starting in FY2011

Code-based HIV case counts will not be recognized in three years

Authorizes up to 5% increase in appropriations per year

Desired changes that the HIV community advocated for that are included in the bill:

ADAP rebate dollars would be counted towards a penalty for exceeding the amount of carryover

Change of unobligated penalty was increased from 2% to 5%

Clarification that SONI [Severity of Need Index] cannot be used to determined awards

Statement that Part D providers do not have "core medical" requirement

Desired changes that the HIV community advocated for but were not included in the bill:

Allowing food to count as core medical pursuant to doctor's prescription

Allowing medical transportation to count as core medical

Elimination of set authorized funding dollar amounts in bill

Continuation/grandfathering of smaller TGAs

NAPWA is very pleased that this essential program was continued for another four years.

10/23/09

Sources

Executive Office of the President. Statement of Administration Policy -- Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009. http://hab.hrsa.gov. October 19, 2009.

M Lesieur. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act Passes the U.S. House and U.S. Senate! President has pledged to sign the bill. National Association of People with AIDS announcement. October 21, 2009.