CNMI gets $53K for HIV/AIDS care, meds

The Northern Mariana Islands has been awarded a total of $53,958 in grants to provide primary care, medications and services for low-income and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS.

The award forms part of the more than $1.1 billion in grants that were announced Wednesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.

Of the amount the CNMI will get, $50,000 represent the base grant, while $3,958 will go toward the AIDS Drug Assistance Program that provide prescription medications for HIV/AIDS patients.

Funded under Part B of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, the grants are awarded to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Besides the CNMI, also receiving grants are the U.S. Pacific territory of American Samoa and the associated jurisdictions of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau.

HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration manages the Ryan White program.

“These Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part B grants help ensure Americans, especially those in rural and underserved communities, affected by HIV/AIDS get access to the care they need through quality health care and support systems,” Leavitt said. “These grants strengthen community, city and state capacities to care for those with HIV.”

The majority of the funding, $774 million, supports state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. In 2006, close to 158,000 ADAP clients were served through state ADAPs.

Part B awards also include formula base grants that can be used for home and community-based services, insurance continuation, ADAP assistance, and other direct services. Fourteen states will also receive Emerging Community grants based on the number of AIDS cases over the most recent five-year period.

“Ryan White Part B awards reflect the urgent need for life-saving medications for those living with HIV/AIDS,” said HRSA Administrator Elizabeth Duke. “Today we are thankful and proud that all ADAP waiting lists have been eliminated.”

Every year, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program helps more than 530,000 people access the care and services they need to live longer, healthier lives. Information on all domestic, Federal HIV/AIDS programs is available at http://www.aids.gov. HRSA, part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit http://www.hrsa.gov. [B][I](HHS)[/I][/B]