Ryan White/ADAP

Spending bill increases some Ryan White
programs, cuts others

January 10, 2008

Shortly before leaving for the holiday recess, Congress passed a final spending bill for Fiscal Year 2008. Included in this bill is funding for the Ryan White Program, which funds HIV/AIDS care, treatment, and support programs for low-income people with HIV/AIDS who are uninsured or underinsured.

President Bush had vetoed a previous bill that contained a significant overall increase for Ryan White, including increases for all major Parts of the program. Unfortunately, in order to negotiate a final bill that would be signed by the President, Congress forced to make significant cuts from its original proposal.

The result is an overall increase of $29 million for Ryan White. Parts A, C, and D received their first increases in several years:

Part A (money for hardest hit cities): $23 million increase
Part B/AIDS Drug Assistance Program: $19 million increase
Part C (money for community-based clinics): $5 million increase
Part D (money for services targeting women, children, youth, and families): $2 million

However, the final bill also has a troubling $19 million cut to Part B Base, which funds care, treatment and support services in all states. This 6% cut is the largest reduction in Ryan White funding since the beginning of the program. It is especially problematic following last year’s $75 million increase to Part B Base, which allowed many states to improve their care and treatment services significantly.

Project Inform will work with our advocacy partners to, at a minimum, restore the cut to Part B Base. We will also continue to advocate for full funding for the entire Ryan White Program so that it can be a true safety net for people with HIV/AIDS.