The
next meeting is scheduled for May 18th.
Please
consider contacting your legislator to urge them to pass the Ryan White
Funding. Identify yourself as a
constituent living in your representative/senator's district. Let them know of your concerns about the
current state of Ryan White funding and encourage them to consider (or
reconsider) where they fall on this particular issue. Let your legislator know that you look
forward to their response, and be sure to thank them for their time. Information and talking points about Utah’s Ryan White
Funding Issue are below.
Executive Appropriations Committee Members:
District
1 - Sen. Luz Robles, lrobles@utahsenate.org
District 4 - Sen. Patricia W. Jones, pjones@utahsenate.org
District 5 - Sen. Karen Mayne, kmayne@utahsenate.org
District 6 - Sen. Michael G. Waddoups, waddoups@utahsenate.org
District 7 - Sen. Ross I. Romero, rromero@utahsenate.org
District 9 - Sen. Wayne L. Niederhauser, wniederhauser@utahsenate.org
District 11 - Rep. Brad L. Dee, bdee@utah.gov
District 17 - Sen. Peter C. Knudson, pknudson@utahsenate.org
District 20 - Sen. Scott K. Jenkins, sjenkins@utahsenate.org
District 21 - Rep. James R. Gowans, jgowans@utah.gov
District 23 - Sen. Daniel R. Liljenquist, Vice Chair,
dliljenquist@utahsenate.org
District 23 - Rep. Jennifer M. Seelig, jseelig@utah.gov
District 25 - Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard, Chair, lhillyard@utahsenate.org
District 26 - Rep. David Litvack, dlitvack@utah.gov
District 32 - Rep. Ron Bigelow, Chair, ronbigelow@utah.gov
District 37 - Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, csmoss@utah.gov
District 64 - Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart, blockhart@utah.gov
District 71 - Rep. Bradley G. Last, Vice Chair, blast@utah.gov
District 74 - Rep. David Clark, dclark@utah.gov
Utah’s Ryan White
Part B Grant Funding
Because of the work of Senator Orrin Hatch, Utah has been eligible
for funding through the Ryan White CARE Act since 1992.
This
funding provides assistance to low income families living with HIV in accessing
primary medical care, medications, and supportive services. These services
remove barriers to this life-saving treatment and care. Without funding, these
services will disappear.
Without these life-saving medications individuals and families will suffer.
The life span of a person living with HIV has changed dramatically since
the introduction of medications that inhibit the virus’ ability to replicate.
Many Utahns with HIV may not survive a year without
this funding which pays for their medical care, medications and supportive
services.
Ryan White Part B costs Utah
nothing.
Utah’s
match to receive Ryan White Part B funding is provided through in-kind budget
items. The Utah Department of Health demonstrates this to Health and Human
Services through expenses Utah
incurs regardless of accepting Ryan White Funding. That means there is no cash
contribution from the State of Utah.
If the State refuses this Ryan White funding, there is ZERO savings to the
State.
It remains unclear what impact Federal Health Reform act will have for
people living with HIV.
It is clear however, that by accepting federal assistance all Utah families living
with HIV benefit. Because of Ryan White Funding, fewer people will develop
life-threatening illnesses, thus placing less burden
on the State of Utah
for providing emergency services.
Ryan White funding provides more than medical care and medication
assistance.
Programming supported by Ryan White funding removes barriers that prevent
low income individuals and families living with HIV from accessing medical care
and medication.
Ryan White Part B funds assist more than 450 families.
