AIDS Action Council Calls Senate Appropriations Committee Recommendations Inadequate To Meet Growing Epidemic

The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday recommended a very modest overall increase for domestic HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs and flat funding for treatment education and training and domestic HIV prevention programs. The Senate committee's proposed funding is much less than recommendations from the House of Representatives subcommittee and significantly less then the actual needs for HIV/AIDS care, treatment, education and prevention programs. The Senate committee's recommended funding is inadequate overall to meet the growing needs of those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

There are estimated to be more than half a million people in the U.S. who are infected with HIV but are not in medical care. At least half of that number, 250,000 or more people, is unaware of their HIV status. People under 25 years of age account for approximately half of new HIV infections. African Americans and Latinos together account for over 60% of people living with HIV/AIDS.

"We at AIDS Action Council are very disturbed that the committee's funding levels are not enough to keep pace with the growing infection rate, especially in communities of color, or to address the treatment and care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in our country," said Rebecca Haag, Executive Director, AIDS Action Council. "Current funding amounts are not sufficient to ensure that life-saving drugs and medical treatment are available to all who are infected, not enough to reduce the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections every year and not enough to provide outreach and testing to people who are unaware of their HIV status. The reality is we need significantly more funding."

We are very dismayed that the Senate bill contains $30 million for the new Early Diagnosis Grant Program, for which no state is currently eligible, while providing no increased funding for HIV preventions programs or funding for increased HIV testing and counseling. AIDS Action Council does, however, commend the Senate committee for cutting by $28 million funding for community- based abstinence-only programs. These programs have been shown to be ineffective and should be replaced with educational programs that are comprehensive and scientifically sound.

AIDS Action Council is also concerned that the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) and the Dental Reimbursement Program were the only Ryan White programs that did not see funding increases in either the Senate or House committee's bill. AETCs are responsible for building and maintaining a well- educated health professional workforce, which is vital in light of growing caseloads. The dental program increases access to oral health care services for HIV-positive individuals who cannot afford routine dental care while providing education and clinical training for dental providers, especially those located in community based-settings. Both programs are critical to maintaining the health of those living with HIV.

AIDS Action Council urges legislators in both the House and Senate to amend the legislation to increase funding to keep pace with this growing, deadly epidemic.

"The President has rightfully called for a significant increase in our commitment to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. We cannot leave people living with HIV/AIDS or those at risk here in our own country behind. The Senate committee's measure falls short of meeting the challenges of a still growing domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic. Congress needs to do more" Haag added.

AIDS Action Council is a Washington non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of people living with HIV and AIDS and that helped to create and ensure passage of the original Ryan White CARE Act in 1990 and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 last December.
source:www.medicalnewstoday.com