Los Angeles County to Receive a Bigger AIDS Grant

Los Angeles County will get $2 million more federal Ryan White CARE Act funds than it received last year, which will help local governments provide for the unmet needs of low-income residents with HIV/AIDS. Though the shares of funding for New York and San Francisco will decrease, Los Angeles County's allotment amounts to a 5.5 percent increase, boosting the county's federal grant to nearly $40 million.

Some of the assistance is tied directly to the size of the HIV/AIDS population. Los Angeles County's numbers increased last year at a slower rate than in years past -- to an estimated 16,700 people -- so those funds decreased slightly. But the county received a greater share of competitive supplemental funds, which are awarded based on demonstrated, severe need.

"Eighty-five to 88 percent of the AIDS cases in the county are among men," said Gunter Freehill, spokesperson for the county Office of AIDS Policy and Programs. Fewer services are available in the county to men with HIV, "which places an additional burden on our health care services." He added that the county has a persistent problem with people who seek treatment after their health problems have become severe, increasing their need for the services.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, one of the nation's largest AIDS organizations, used the grant announcement to call for the county to spend less on administrative functions and more on patient care. AHF Associate Director of Federal Affairs Clint Trout said the county's grant application cut the percentage of aid dedicated to outpatient medical care and substance abuse services and increased the amount slated for administrative services. Funding for all programs would have grown, had the county received the $50 million it requested, Trout said, but would increase only for administrative services under the $40 million allotment.

Nationally, Ryan White spending rose less than 1 percent this year. New York City lost $13.9 million, cutting its grant to $103.9 million.

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