Obama’s FY11 Budget Short Changes HIV Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2010 | MEDIA CONTACT:  Johnathon Briggs, 312-334-0922

The White House budget proposal unveiled Feb. 1 will result in further reductions in HIV prevention and care services across the U.S. with scarcely any help from the federal government, AIDS advocates warn.

“Even with the nominal HIV funding increases proposed by the Obama Administration, fewer HIV prevention and care services will be provided across the country because of disastrous state budget cuts, which will only widen the gap in unmet need,” said David Ernesto Munar, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) vice president.

As state and municipal governments continue to cut health and human services to address their budget shortfalls, the supply of HIV-related services continues to decline at a rapid pace.  A September 2009 survey conducted by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors found that states had already reduced HIV and viral hepatitis budgets by more than $167 million.  Funding cuts were concentrated in HIV prevention, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and public health services.  Jurisdictions reported an average decrease in state funding of almost 11 percent in FY2009.

A discretionary spending cap proposed by President Barack Obama on all non-defense-related and entitlement spending may further erode nominal HIV funding increases as lawmakers begin the budget-making process.  Efforts by some lawmakers to restore appropriations for favored programs will certainly force lower appropriations elsewhere.

“In the coming months, the White House will finalize a National HIV/AIDS Strategy which, under the terms of this budget, will be hard pressed to meet its stated goals of fewer HIV transmissions, more people received HIV-related case services, and less HIV-related inequality,” said Munar.

According to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, the president’s request for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes an additional $1.8 million for viral hepatitis services, a $6.8 million increase for sexually transmitted disease (STD) services, and a $31 million increase for HIV prevention activities.  Leveraging new and existing funds, CDC will launch a $26.93 million initiative to increase HIV awareness and testing among gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals.  Another $10 million in new funds will be set aside for projects strengthening surveillance and an additional $10 million is requested for service integration across HIV, STD, hepatitis, and tuberculosis programs.

Despite White House efforts to expand HIV testing, investments in corresponding HIV care would increase only slightly under the president’s budget plan.  The president’s request seeks a $20 million increase for ADAP, which is significantly lower than the community request of $370.1 million to address waiting lists and unmet service need for medication assistance across the country.   The budget would also increase Ryan White Part B care services for states and territories by $10 million, Part C early intervention grants by $5 million, dental services by $1.8 million and AIDS Education and Training Centers by $2.6 million.  Part A grants to cities would not see any funding increases under the president’s plan.

The Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) program would receive a $5 million increase and research activities at the National Institutes for Health, including HIV-related research, would increase by 3.2 percent.  States would benefit from a six-month extension of enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates next fiscal year.

“We can’t fill in all the state budget cuts,” said Jeff Crowley, White House National Office of AIDS Policy director said on a briefing call.

AFC joins other organizations across the country in urging Congress to appropriate higher amounts across the board to reverse escalating HIV and public health service cuts nationwide.

Stay tuned to the AFC’s action network for additional federal appropriations news and advocacy opportunities.