Senator Tom Coburn's activity on the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security

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October 20, 2006

HIV/AIDS issue page


MAJOR OVERSIGHT ACTIONS -- HIV/AIDS

FFM Hearing I, June 23, 2005, Addressing Disparities in Federal HIV/AIDS CARE Programs

FFM Hearing II, April 26, 2006, Ensuring Early Diagnosis and Access to Treatment for HIV/AIDS - Can Federal Resources Be More Effectively Targeted?

ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT ACTIONS

December 14, 2005: Dr. Coburn wrote a letter to Secretary Michael Leavitt of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to express his concerns with the slow reauthorization process of the Ryan White CARE Act, and to raise two significant issues of importance to be considered in the reauthorization process: ensuring fair formulas and adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

April 20, 2006: Dr. Coburn solicited responses from certain states regarding the success of universal HIV testing legislation to see if the impact dramatically reduced HIV/AIDS in babies. Three states reported significant improvements in identifying newborns with HIV, as well as overall reductions in HIV in infants. Read Dr. Coburn's letters and state responses by clicking here.

May 22, 2006: Dr. Coburn sent a letter to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the failure of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to properly enforce the 1996 federal HIV spousal notification law.

July 31, 2006: Dr. Coburn sent a letter to Secretary Leavitt regarding the impact of Congress failing to re-authorize the Ryan White CARE Act by October 1, 2006.

January 3, 2007: Dr. Coburn sent a letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on Ryan White CARE Act temporary AIDS housing funds, and reiterates that the CARE Act's primary purpose should be provision of core medical services to those with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Coburn's letter requests restraint in overhead costs of housing services, and suggests 75% of the FY07 funds ($286 million) allotted for Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program should be spent on actual housing assistance (in recent years, up to 43% of HOPWA funds went to excessive overhead costs).

May 30, 2007: Dr. Coburn sent a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt regarding the ongoing mismanagement of federal AIDS dollars in Puerto Rico that threatens the delivery of care and treatment to hundreds of patients living with HIV/AIDS. On June 8, 2007, the Puerto Rico Health Secretary responded to Dr. Coburn. Read more about this in the news here: New York Times, "Puerto Rico’s AIDS Care in Disarray Over Funds."

October 5, 2007: Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in October titled, “Ryan White Care Act: Impact of Legislative Funding Proposal on Urban Areas,” found that money for San Francisco would essentially be for dead AIDS patients who passed away more than 12 years ago.

MAJOR UPDATES IN TREATMENT & CARE -- HIV/AIDS
September 21, 2006: CDC revises testing recommendations for HIV testing.  More: New CDC HIV Testing Recommendations Press Conference with AIDS Healthcare Foundation KEY POINTS from Senator Coburn 
MAJOR LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS -- HIV/AIDS

February 28, 2006: Dr. Coburn introduced S.2339, a bill to reauthorize the HIV Health Care Services Program to the Ryan White CARE Act, which is the largest federal HIV/AIDS-specific treatment program. Background on S.2339 is available here.

September 29, 2006: Passage of critical Ryan White CARE Act renewal legislation held up in the Senate. More: September 29, 2006 - Dr. Coburn addresses the Senate on the hold-up of the Ryan White CARE Act passage. More: Background facts - Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization

December 6, 2006: Ryan White CARE Act passes in the Senate, Dr. Coburn Applauds Passage of Ryan White CARE Act

October 23, 2007: Senate Passes Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill That Includes Amendment Preventing Redistribution of Ryan White Funding in Some Areas

November 7, 2007: Dr. Coburn Disappointed Senate Rejects Baby AIDS Funding.
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Senator Tom Coburn's activity on the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security

340 Dirksen Senate Office Building     Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-2254     Fax: 202-228-3796

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