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September 24, 2006
HOUSING WORKS POSITION ON RYAN WHITE REAUTHORIZATION: FIX THE BILL - AMEND, DON'T EXTEND!
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As you have probably heard or read, a bill reauthorizing the Ryan White Care Act has passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is awaiting action in the Senate.
Senators and Representatives from several states that would lose funding in this version of the bill, including both of New York's Senators, have introduced competing legislation (the Lautenberg/Pallone bill) which would extend the current law for another year.
Housing Works does not support the reauthorization bill that passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee and we have urged Congress to make four specific changes to improve it (see below).
And unlike many other AIDS organizations in New York and other high prevalence states, Housing Works does not support the one-year extension bill.
We want you to know why.
While the bill that passed the House committee is untenable, the status quo is unacceptable as well. For too long, people living with HIV/AIDS and frontline AIDS service providers have had to "make do" with hopelessly inadequate funding. As of last week, nearly 200 people were on the wait list for drugs in South Carolina. Meanwhile, in New York, the over 125,000 people living with HIV/AIDS stand to lose $78 million in Title II funding over the next four years if the proposed "Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006" passes Congress as written.
The "new" Ryan White cuts funding relied on by PLWHAs, primarily in the original epicenters of AIDS. The "old" Ryan White system shortchanges people newly infected, primarily living in rural areas and the Deep South.
This geographic splitting is partisan politics at play. It's not right to sacrifice people living with HIV/AIDS anywhere in the country - particularly when all it would cost to provide decent care to everyone is the price of two days of the war in Iraq.
As a tactic, introducing extension legislation that forces negotiation to change the House version may be good strategy and lead to improvements. Or it may lead to the current bill being attached - as is - to a mammoth spending bill before the end of the congressional session in December.
A simple extension of the old law is NOT a meaningful solution to the crisis we now face.
Not only would an extension of the law hurt parts of the country that desperately need new resources – it would also keep members of the AIDS community fighting among ourselves instead of fighting for universal access to treatment, housing, services and care.
We refuse to be a part of this political game, fighting over a bone instead of fighting for what people living with AIDS and HIV really need.
Our position is very simple. Congress must pass reauthorization now, but the reauthorization must be just.
Housing Works will support Ryan White reauthorization legislation that includes four important improvements to the measure that passed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee:
1. EXPAND FUNDING BY $500M TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CARE NATIONWIDE
Stop playing regional politics and get the money we need nationwide. A total of $500 million in additional funding will eliminate ADAP waiting lists, support areas with emerging epidemics, and protect access and quality in high-prevalence areas. This includes a $70 million increase for Title II base and an additional $197 million for ADAP - the amount identified by treatment experts as needed to allow all states to provide a minimum level of service to those in need.
2. EXTEND "HOLD HARMLESS" PROVISIONS TO FIVE YEARS
We must protect lifesaving HIV care systems from dramatic funding cuts that will put lives at risk - adequate new funding for emerging areas and assurance of continued support for high-prevalence epicenters will mean a reauthorization that everyone can support.
3. REVISE "CORE MEDICAL SERVICES" REQUIREMENT TO ALLOW SERVICES THAT SUPPORT TREATMENT ADHERENCE AND GOOD HEALTH
Housing, food, transportation and legal services are lifesavers - it's hard to stick to your meds if you're homeless, hungry, can't get to the doctor or are in danger of losing your home or kids. We must modify "core medical services" spending requirements to allow spending on supportive services that save lives.
4. KEEP THE FOCUS ON TREATMENT AND CARE - STRIP TESTING LANGUAGE OUT
We must reject attempts to use Ryan White to redirect CDC prevention funding and cement controversial HIV testing policies. Congress should eliminate the "Early Diagnosis Grant Program" section in current drafts of reauthorization legislation.
Housing Works calls on Congress to build support for a consensus reauthorization plan that will ensure lifesaving, quality HIV care to everyone in our nation living with HIV. Once we've passed the reauthorization, then we can all work towards a plan for universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.