Core Services

More money will be spent on direct health care for Ryan White clients. Under the new law, grantees receiving funds under Parts A, B, and C (formerly called Titles I, II and III) must spend at least 75 percent of funds on "core medical services."

The Administration and Congress want to make sure that grantees target Federal funds to pay for essential medical care. That care includes

• outpatient and ambulatory health services;
• pharmaceutical assistance;
• substance abuse outpatient services;
• oral health;
• medical nutritional therapy;
• health insurance premium assistance;
• home health care;
• hospice services;
• mental health services;
• early intervention services; and
• medical case management, including treatment adherence services.

Previously, no core set of medical services was specified in the statute.

Remaining funds may be spent on support services, defined as services needed to achieve outcomes that affect the HIV-related clinical status of a person with HIV/AIDS. The law outlines support services as:

• outreach;
• medical transportation;
• language services;
• respite care for persons caring for individuals with HIV/AIDS; and
• referrals for health care and other support services.