http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=60789

Federal Program to Treat HIV Positive Hispanics Outdated; Ryan White CARE Act Must Be Reformed to End Treatment Disparities

2/9/2006 3:31:00 PM


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To: National Desk

Contact: Stacey Schacht of the League of United Latin American Citizens, 202-295-5056 or SSchacht@HispanicConsultants.com

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today in an open letter to the U.S. Congress urges the reform and modernization of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act to end the treatment disparities for Hispanics in the United States.

Hispanics now make up one-fifth of all people living with HIV/AIDS in America, and that number is rising. HIV/AIDS increasingly affects those Hispanics living and working along the U.S. - Mexico border and in non-urban areas of the heartland where migrant workers are more likely to have little or no health insurance, and inadequate health care options available to them.

"We urge the Congress to alleviate the disparities in the CARE Act for HIV positive Hispanics living and working in the U.S.," said Dr. Gabriela D. Lemus, LULAC Director of Policy and Legislation. "The Ryan White program must be improved so that all Hispanics, whether they are living near the border region or working as migrant farmers can gain access to life sustaining treatment and healthcare."

Reform begins with both Title's I & II. Title I of the CARE Act restricts funding to metropolitan areas with populations over 500,000, with the majority of funding going to local HIV/AIDS organizations who provide care support services. This leaves out large areas of the country, outside large population centers where many Hispanics live and work.

Title II is supposed to fund antiretroviral drug access for Americans who don't qualify for Medicaid and don't have adequate insurance. Yet, many Hispanics now face waiting lists for antiretrovirals and enrollment caps for the state administered AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). For example, Alabama has more than 450 patients waiting to access medicines while North Carolina, with a large migrant worker population has the longest waiting list in the country, with 529 patients.

"The President in his State of the Union speech urged the modernization of the CARE Act to end the treatment disparities and increase access to medicines. We applaud the President's words and his commitment to fighting this disease. It is now incumbent upon the U.S. Congress to heed his remarks, reform the CARE Act and end the suffering," said Dr. Lemus.

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 600 LULAC councils nationwide.