Letter: To Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary, United States Department of Health and Human Services

Letter

Dear Secretary Leavitt:

We want to make you aware of the letter we recently sent to Administrator Duke regarding the recent loss of Ryan White Title I formula funding for Connecticut's two Transitional Grant Areas (TGAs). As a result of the administration of the P.L. 109-415, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, the Hartford and New Haven areas will lose $724,409 in Fiscal Year 2007.

As a result, services supported by Title I grants such as community-based outpatient medical and dental care, rehabilitative services, home health and hospice care, transportation and housing assistance, nutrition services, and respite care will be jeopardized. Cuts in funding of this magnitude will create new and significant barriers to HIV/AIDS care and treatment and will doubtlessly jeopardize successful health outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Because the Title I formula grant announcement is so recent, Connecticut's TGAs will not have the opportunity to demonstrate need in their application for supplemental Title I Ryan White funding pursuant to section 103 of P.L. 109-415. We believe this precipitous loss in formula funding for Connecticut's TGAs will result in a significant reduction of services to residents living with HIV/AIDS. As such, we believe Connecticut's TGAs should receive priority in the supplemental grant-making process.

We ask you to please look into this matter as soon as possible. We look forward to your response and want to continue to work with you to protect individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Connecticut.

Source