Without debate, the Senate on June 6 passed, by voice vote, a bill (S. 2311) that would reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act (P.L. 101-381). The measure, sponsored by Sen. James Jeffords (R-VT), was approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on April 12 (see The Source, 4/14/00).
The Ryan White CARE Act was first passed in 1990 and reauthorized by Congress in 1996. The Act provides emergency assistance to those cities with the largest number of AIDS cases. In order to qualify for funding, cities must have a population of 500,000 as well as 2,000 newly diagnosed AIDS cases in the previous two years. Cities may use the funds to increase and improve quality and availability of health and support services for HIV-infected individuals and their families, including outpatient services, substance abuse and mental health treatment, and drug therapy; to provide early intervention services, including HIV testing for high-risk individuals; and to hire and train health care personnel and support staff. Funding streams for the Act are divided into five Titles.
The bill would reauthorize the program through FY2005, but it does not specify funding amounts. The legislation makes several changes to current law in an effort to provide services to a greater number of individuals and to better aid communities with the greatest need. The bill would allow Title I and II funds to be used for early intervention services. Currently, only Title II funds may be used for those services.
In an effort to strengthen the quality of medical services under the Act, S. 2311 would establish a Quality Management Program for that purpose. Additionally, the bill would require state programs receiving funding through the Act to coordinate with Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Under current law, Title IV funds may be used for clinical research on drug therapies for infants, children, and pregnant women. Programs are required to ensure “significant enrollment” of clients; however, many rural areas are unable to do so. As a result, S. 2311 would remove this requirement. The bill would also direct the Institute of Medicine to study the Act’s funding formula and make recommendations on how grantees could improve the coordination of services.
