31 Mar American Academy of HIV Medicine Hopes New Biden Budget Will Get the U.S. Closer to Ending the HIV Epidemic
The American Academy of HIV Medicine applauds the Biden Administration for prioritizing health care funding in the recently released budget proposal. With a $127.3 billion investment in discretionary programs and $1.7 trillion in mandatory programs for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the budget showcases a deep commitment to reinvesting in public health, research, and making major investments in HIV, overdose prevention, mental health, maternal health and cancer.
Most significant to the millions with or those most at-risk for HIV in the U.S., the budget includes an increase of over $377 million for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative to bring an end to HIV by 2030. One of the most encouraging aspects of the budget proposal is $9.8 billion in mandatory funding over ten years to guarantee access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at no cost for all uninsured and underinsured individuals, including wrap-around services delivered through the states, targeted resources for the Indian Health Service, tribal entities and localities, and establishing a network of community providers to reach underserved areas and populations.
“Despite PrEP being nearly perfectly effective in blocking HIV transmission, its uptake has been too slow in this country, especially for the populations who are disproportionally affected,” said Bruce J. Packett, executive director of the Academy. “This investment will better ensure that PrEP is available to all who would benefit from it, thereby helping us get closer to ending the HIV epidemic.”
Additional investments most critical to Academy members include:
- A nearly $2.7 billion investment for people with HIV in the United States through Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding (an increase of $71 million over FY’22 funding)
- Part A: $666 million (-$4.6M)
- Part B Care: $445 million (+ $1M)
- Part B ADAP: $900 million
- Part C: $207 million (+$1.6M)
- Part D $75 million (-$1.7M)
- AETC: $34 million (-1M)
- Part F Dental: $13 million
- SPNS: $25 million
- An increase for the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
- An increase in CDC’s viral hepatitis programming
- A modest increase in CDC’s opioid-related infectious diseases programming
- A modest increase for the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS) program
- A $6 million increase to improve operations and oversight of the 340B Drug Pricing Program
- $4 million for the Title X Family Planning Program
- A modest increase in the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program
It is important to note that these numbers simply indicate the Biden Administration’s priorities in spending and do not necessarily reflect the level of investment that Congressional appropriators will approve.
“There is still much advocacy necessary to ensure adequate investment in HIV-related prevention, treatment and care, and in our health care system more broadly,” stated Leslie McGorman, public policy director for the Academy. “We call on Congress to make an even greater commitment to funding these programs so we can save lives and finally end the HIV epidemic.”
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