Date: Thu, 06 Feb 97 18:22:50 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: Clinton HIV/AIDS Budget Asks For Small Increases-More Needed ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Feb. 6, 1997 CLINTON'S HIV/AIDS BUDGET ASKS FOR SMALL INCREASES FOR PREVENTION, CARE, RESEARCH, HOUSING More Is Needed To Fulfill Pledges in Administration's HIV/AIDS Strategy, HRC Asserts EDITORS NOTE: Detailed comparison of FY96, FY97 and proposed FY98 HIV/AIDS budget numbers can be found at the end of this press release. WASHINGTON -- President Clinton's budget proposal includes small increases for programs that deal with people living with HIV and AIDS, but falls far short of the lofty goals of the White House's National AIDS Strategy. "The good news is that the president is asking for increases for care, prevention, housing and research at a time when other discretionary spending is static," said Winnie Stachelberg, HRC's legislative director. "Unfortunately, these increases are not enough considering that we could be on the threshold of beating back this epidemic. To achieve the goals articulated in the White House strategy, President Clinton must commit the money now, for treatment of those already infected and for research aimed at finding a cure." One serious problem is the president's plan to impose a per-capita cap on Medicaid spending, according to Stachelberg. "Imposing such restrictions could be devastating to thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS and might limit their access to the new class of drugs that have improved and prolonged so many lives," she said. Last week, the bipartisan National Governors Association and a bipartisan roster of senators joined a chorus of groups opposed to such caps. The president's budget calls for a $17 million increase for HIV/AIDS prevention, an approximately 3 percent increase over fiscal 1997 levels. States would decide how to spend this money. "We hope that states will use some of these funds to target injecting drug users, since about three-quarters of all new HIV infections are occurring in this population," Stachelberg said. "We also continue to believe that the administration should encourage states to implement needle exchange programs because such programs have been shown to slow the spread of HIV in one of the most vulnerable communities." The president also requested an $8 million increase in the Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS program. This represents a 4 percent boost over fiscal 1997, when $196 million was appropriated for HOPWA. About 90 percent of these funds go directly to states and cities to provide housing for people with AIDS. In the area of care, the president asked for a $40 million increase above the $996.3 million appropriated last year. Of that increase, about $15 million would go to states under Title II of the Ryan White CARE Act, giving them the flexibility to earmark the funds for drugs. Title IIIB of Ryan White, which provides funds for direct services to people living with HIV and AIDS, would get also get an increase of $15 million, 22 percent above fiscal '97 levels. "These increases are particularly welcome in light of the dramatic health improvements some people with HIV and AIDS have shown after taking the new drug combinations," Stachelberg said. The budget also includes a plan that would make it possible for people who have benefitted from the new drug treatments to return to work without losing their Medicaid coverage. Currently, people on Supplemental Security Income who go to work lose their Medicaid coverage if their earnings exceed a certain amount, set by their state. The president's budget proposes allowing such beneficiaries to keep their Medicaid coverage by paying premiums as their income rises. The president also asked for a 4 percent increase for AIDS-related research, for a total of approximately $1.54 billion. The president's budget also calls for a $2 million increase, to $142 million, in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's breast and cervical cancer early detection program. This program is gathering data on the incidence of these cancers among lesbians, a population believed to be at a higher risk than heterosexual women. - 30 - ********************************************************************** FY 1998 HIV/AIDS PORTFOLIO PREVENTION / CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL FY' 97 = $617.0 M FY' 96 = $585.4 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 2.7 percent President's Request 98 = $634.3 M (+17.3 M) RYAN WHITE (TOTAL) FY' 97 = $996.3 M FY'96 = $757.7 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 4.0 percent President's Request 98 = $1,038.3 M (+42 M) TITLE I FY' 97 = $449.9 M FY' 96 = $391.7 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 1.1 percent President's Request 98 = $454.9 M (+5 M) TITLE II FY' 97 = $417.0 M FY' 96 = $260.8 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 3.5 percent President's Request 98 = $432.0 M (+15 M) AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FY' 97 = $167.0 M FY' 96 = $52.0 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = n/a President's Request 98 = no earmark TITLE III B FY' 97 = $69.6 M FY' 96 = $56.9 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 18.0 percent President's Request 98 = $84.6 M (+15 M) TITLE IV FY' 97 = $36.0 M FY' 96 = $29.0 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 10.0 percent President's Request 98 = $40.0 M (+4 M) TITLE VA - AIDS EDUCATION TRAINING CENTERS FY' 97 = $16.3 M FY' 96 = $12.3 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = +5.8 percent President's Request 98 = $ 17.3 M (+1 M) TITLE VB - DENTAL FY' 97 = $7.5 M FY' 96 = $6.9 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = 0 percent President's Request 98 = $7.5 M NIH - RESEARCH FY' 97 = $1501.1 M FY' 96 = $1431.9 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 2.6 percent President's Request 98 = $1,540.8 M (+39.7 M) HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS FY' 97 = $196.0 M FY' 96 = $171.0 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = + 3.9 percent President's Request 98 = $204.0 M (+8 M) SUBSTANCE ABUSE & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINSTRATION FY' 97 = $66 M FY' 96 = $54 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = +1.5 percent President's Request 98 = $67 M INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES FY' 97 = $3.6 M FY' 96 = $3 M Percentage Difference over FY 97 = +5.3 percent President's Request 98 = $3.8 M FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION FY' 97 = $72.7 M FY' 96 = $72.7 Percentage Difference over FY 97 = n/a President's Request 98 = $72.7 **********************************************************************