Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006

Formerly known as the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 legislates a federal program designed to provide care and support services to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.[1] It was first authorized in 1990 and has been reauthorized three times in 1996, 2000, and 2006.[2] The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau, and is divided into different parts that fund various HIV-related health services administered by eligible metropolitan areas, states, and community-based organizations.

Part A provides formula based emergency assistance grants for health care and support services to “eligible metropolitan areas” (EMAs) and “transitional grant areas” (TGAs) that are most severely affected by HIV/AIDS. Part B provides formula based grants to states and territories to stabilize public health systems and improve HIV health care and supportive services. Part B also administers the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) that provides pharmaceutical access to thousands of uninsured and underinsured people with HIV. Part C provides direct grants to community-based health care facilities through its Early Intervention Services Program that offers outreach to at risk populations, HIV testing, and comprehensive primary health care for newly diagnosed and chronically infected individuals. Part D supports women, children, and youth with HIV/AIDS and their families with family-centered services targeted to the needs of this population. Part E describes federal audit and oversight requirements for HIV care and service programs, and mandates that HHS create a “severity of need index” as a tool to more precisely distribute federal funds under the Act.

Part F is comprised of four parts: Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), HIV/AIDS Education and Training Centers, Dental Reimbursement Program, and Minority AIDS Initiative. SPNS supports the development of models and novel systems for HIV care and system delivery. HIV/AIDS Education and Training Centers include national and regional centers that provide training for health care providers who treat people with HIV/AIDS and deal with the many facets of HIV infection. The Dental Reimbursement Program supports oral health services for uninsured people with HIV in teaching and community-based settings. The Minority AIDS initiative provides funding to strengthen organizational capacity and expand HIV-related services in minority communities.[3]

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is currently funded at 2.2 billion dollars and provides services to more than half a million people with HIV each year.[4] Recognizing the federal government's woefully inadequate response to the epidemic and the needs of those infected with HIV in the early years, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation played a key role in the initial enactment of this legislation. Since that time the Foundation has aggressively advocated for this legislation and for funding levels that would ensure access to HIV care and treatment for all Americans living with HIV and AIDS.


[1] Health Resources and Services Administration. The HIV/AIDS Program: Ryan White Parts A–F. http://hab.hrsa.gov/aboutus.htm.

[2] CAEAR Coalition. Overview of Ryan White CARE Act Titles. http://www.caear.org/coalition/pdf/CAEAR_Fact_Sheet_Overview.pdf. [This is the closest I could find to Jillian’s original reference.]

[3] Kaiser Family Foundation. HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet: The Ryan White Program. June 2008. http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7582_04.pdf.

[4] Kaiser Family Foundation. HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet: The Ryan White Program. June 2008. http://www.kff.org/hivaids/upload/7582_04.pdf.

NASTAD's Principles for Reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act (December 2006)

http://www.nastad.org/Docs/Public/Publication/2007716_Volume_16.pdf

Changes Needed to Improve Distribution of Ryan White CARE Act and Housing Funds (February 2006) [www.gao.gov]

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06332.pdf

National Health Policy Forum Report: The Basics: The Ryan White CARE Act (September 2005)

http://www.nhpf.org/pdfs_basics/Basics_RyanWhite.pdf

NASTAD Press Release on Reauthorization (May 2006)

http://www.nastad.org/Docs/highlight/2006517_Reauth%20Press%20Release%20Final.pdf