Requirement to Spend 75% of Federal AIDS Care Dollars On Medical Services Already Being Ignored -- "Partial win for LI in AIDS suit"
By DENISE BONILLA
Newsday
March 14, 2007
Nassau and Suffolk counties declared a partial victory Wednesday in a lawsuit filed against the federal government over the potential loss of millions of dollars in AIDS funding.
The lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services, announced Feb. 27 by Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, sought among other things, a waiver to a provision of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 that required that 75 percent of funding be used on core medical needs, with 25 percent going toward support services.
Wednesday the federal government granted the waiver.
With most residents having adequate medical insurance coverage, Long Island uses 50 percent of AIDS funds on medical needs with the other 50 percent going toward support services such as transportation to medical appointments and housing assistance.
Because of the area's high cost of living and limited public transportation, more money is needed for such services, county officials said.
The suit also contends that Long Island should be an "eligible metropolitan area" under the act. Last year, under a previous Ryan White law, Long Island qualified for $6.1 million in this category.
Because the law changed, Long Island has been reclassified and received only $3 million so far.
Added funding will be announced later this year but AIDS leaders predict an overall loss of $1.5 million to $1.7 million for both counties.
The lawsuit is in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Article link: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liaids0315,0,2964235.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
Senator Tom Coburn
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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