The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced $1.4 billion in additional federal funding to combat the national HIV/AIDS epidemic, which the Biden White House has set out to end by 2030.
The Biden-Harris administration set lofty strategic goals in its 2022-2025 National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States to achieve a 75% reduction in new HIV infections by 2025 and a 90% reduction by 2030.
A press release by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says the $1.4 billion will help more than 290,000 individuals receive HIV antiretroviral therapies that can cost up to $40,000 without federal assistance.
“This funding makes it possible for people with HIV to access life-saving medication and treatment that are proven to improve health outcomes, reduce HIV transmission, and save lives. We are incredibly proud of the Department’s leadership of the federal effort to end the HIV epidemic in the United States and advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy,” HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm said Tuesday at the open plenary session of HRSA’s 2024 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care & Treatment in Washington, D.C.
The HHS office adds to HRSA’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, part of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The funding assists low-income Americans in all 50 states who are living with HIV/AIDS.
The HRSA AIDS Drug Assistance Program helps cover HIV medication, co-pays and co-insurance for HIV medication along with premiums for health insurance that covers HIV medication.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program serves over 560,000 individuals, according to a press release, which HHS says is half of the U.S. population with HIV/AIDS.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program funds cities, counties, states and local community-based organizations to provide HIV primary medical care, medication and help address social determinants of health like food, housing and transportation. The program also covers training of healthcare professionals that treat HIV/AIDS.
In 2022, 89.6% of individuals in the program reached viral suppression, meaning they cannot transmit HIV sexually and are healthier. In 2010, just 69.5% of program recipients reached viral suppression.