What is Ryan White?
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is the largest federally-funded care and treatment service program for people living with HIV. The program was named after young Ryan White who was diagnosed with AIDS in December of 1984 after receiving a blood transfusion. Ryan White’s rally to return to school and fight for disease education gained national attention. Ryan White died in April of 1990. Four months later, Congress passed legislation in his honor.
The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, was passed by Congress in August of 1990, and is administered by the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
How does Ryan White help those living with HIV/AIDS?
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) provides all People Living with HIV (PLWH) who are uninsured or underinsured with the opportunity to attain primary medical care and essential support services. The Program also provides access to HIV medication.
According to HRSA, the Program currently provides care and treatment services to more than half a million people each year and approximately 52% of those diagnosed with HIV in the United States.
The Ryan White CARE Act is broken up into five different Programs, or Parts.
- Part A funds HIV/AIDS care in metropolitan areas, also called transitional grant areas, hit the hardest by the epidemic. Part A funds are used to provide core medical and support services for people living with HIV (PLWH).
- Part B provides grant funding to all states and territories in order to improve health care quality for those living with HIV/AIDS. The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is another program under Part B that provides FDA-approved medications to people living with HIV who are either uninsured or underinsured.
- Part C funds go to community-based organizations to support outpatient HIV early intervention services and care. In the state of Nevada, Northern Nevada HOPES in Reno, and University Medical Center in Las Vegas, receive Part C funds.
- Part D funds are used to support family-centered, comprehensive care to women, infants, children, and youth living with HIV. Northern Nevada HOPES in Reno and the Maternal and Child Wellness Program at University of Nevada, Las Vegas – College of Medicine are currently receiving Part D Funds.
- Part F funds go to multidisciplinary education and training programs for health care providers treating people living with HIV. Nevada Aids Education and Training Center (AETC) at the University of Nevada, Reno- Office of Statewide Initiatives is currently receiving Part F Funds.
*A full list of providers and services can be found here.
How can Ryan White help me in Nevada?
The State of Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health hosts the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part B Program. The Part B Program provides access to core medical and supportive services to eligible Nevadans living with HIV/AIDS.
Nevada’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Formulary is geared toward optimum patient care; medications are maintained in coordination with and by recommendation of the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC). For more information on ADAP, please click here. Please click here to see Nevada’s ADAP Formulary.
If you have any questions concerning either Ryan White Part B and ADAP, please contact NVRWPB@health.nv.gov.
