The Latino Commission on AIDS announced its support for the three-year authorization substitute of the pending “Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act HR 6143, as contained in the December 4 draft BAI06B97. We urge the House and the Senate to immediately pass the compromise legislation. The compromise guarantees that the nation will be able to offer much needed medical and social services to persons living with HIV/AIDS regardless of differing profiles of medical support.

We remain concerned about the procedures for approval of non-medical services and have every hope that they will not prove an obstacle to care offered to local and state jurisdictions. The compromise is also good for Puerto Rico in that they will, like other jurisdictions, be able to maintain funding levels (minus 5%) of those allocated in the current year.

This compromise is far from ideal but the three year authorization provides time to identify and correct any adverse consequences. The Commission remains committed to continue advocating for increased funding for Ryan White that does not pit one area of the country against the other.

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