For Immediate Release
August 2, 2005
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Contacts:
Lynn Schulman, 212.367.1210
Noel Alicea, 212.367.1216 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S PRINCIPLES FOR REAUTHORIZATION OF THE RYAN WHITE CARE ACT: APPROACH WITH CAUTION
NEW YORK—On July 27, the Bush Administration released its guiding principles for reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, which expires on September 30, 2005. These principles reaffirm the President's priority to reauthorize the Act.
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) views the principles as a mixed bag and views several of the principles as potentially damaging and destabilizing the HIV care systems of several cities and states, including New York.
The principles fail to address the CARE Act funding needs of all regions around the country. This includes areas with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS and regions that are experiencing a spike in the growth of HIV transmission. The principles address the expansion of the epidemic with inappropriate and dangerous shifts in funding. For example, taking funding away from high prevalence urban areas to fund emerging epidemics in rural areas creates unacceptable gaps in services. The goal of providing greater flexibility to serve those most in need can only succeed with adequate funding to ensure that everyone living with HIV/AIDS has access to appropriate services.
GMHC is particularly concerned with the potential negative impact of the principles, including:
- Further marginalization of homosexually active men, especially men of color. The proposals are completely silent regarding this group. By all measures, men of color are among those most in need of services, especially if prevention efforts such as increased voluntary testing are to be considered. Homosexually active men continue to account for the preponderance of new reported cases of HIV infection, and account for nearly 2/3 of HIV infections among men.
- Destabilization of systems of care throughout the country. Proposed elimination of the hold harmless provision would cause sudden and dramatic reductions in funding because any jurisdiction that experiences yearly shifts in reported HIV/AIDS cases would no longer have a safety net to stabilize their funding. Nearly half of the 51 Title I areas currently benefit from this provision.
- Loss of essential services for people living with HIV and AIDS. Destabilizing systems of care, especially in high prevalence urban areas would have a particularly negative impact on women of color. Over 30% of people served under the CARE Act are women, most of whom are African American or Latina. The percentage of women of color among new reported cases of HIV is rising. By undermining the systems of care that serve women of color, the proposals fail to meet the goal of serving those most in need.
- Dramatic loss of funds for states with one or more Title I areas, such as New York, California, Florida and Texas. Revising the Title II funding formula to exclude HIV/AIDS cases in Title I cities would result in horrific funding losses for states with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the country. This proposal would harm especially rural and suburban areas in those states.
- Elimination of services essential to maintaining people in medical care. The principles call for 75% of funds under Titles I-IV to be used for Òcore medical services.Ó Without a clear definition of core medical services, beyond the obvious services of primary care and medication, programs that have been shown to be essential to maintaining people in medical care might be eliminated or severely diminished.
- Exclusion of people living with HIV and AIDS from the process of decision-making. Since the inception of the CARE Act in 1990, Title I planning councils have had the mandated authority to set priorities for the use of Title I funds. This requirement has enabled diverse segments of the community, and most especially people living with HIV/AIDS, not only to have a seat at the table, but to be part of the decision making. Proposed elimination of the priority setting requirement of Title I planning councils would effectively silence the community's voice in the fight for their lives.
GMHC is fully engaged in the reauthorization process and will work with all parties, including Congress and the Administration, to achieve a renewed CARE Act that meets the goal of providing essential treatment and care to those in greatest need without dismantling existing service networks that have proven their value in saving peoples' lives.
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Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight
against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people
with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention,
treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling
this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming
the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs
to over 15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS
in New York City.
© 2005 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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