Earlier today, Governor de Jongh applauded the Health Department’s progress with the Ryan White Part B Program following a site visit by federal officials, who praised the program’s turnaround. The program, which pays for HIV/AIDs medications for clients under its AIDS Drug Assistance Program and commonly referred to as ADAP, lost $400,000 in funding last year because of past compliance issues dating back to 2007. Since that time, officials with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which administers the grant, has held frequent meetings via conference call with the Office of the Governor and the Department of Health to ensure that compliance issues were met.

de Jongh said that, as a result of the progress, the Department of Health is eligible to apply for a variety of funds including a new grant of $1.1 million as well as supplemental funding under ADAP, Minority AIDS Initiative and Ryan White Part B, which would cover primary healthcare for AIDS patients. 

“I am extremely pleased that we were able to turn this program around as this funding is essential for residents who rely daily on critical HIV medications. As governor, I remain committed to ensuring that all programs benefitting the public remain in compliance so that we are never faced with losing grant funding over issues, that often times, can easily be rectified.”

At a site visit last month, HRSA project officers met with de Jongh Administration officials and praised the fact that all mandatory reports to the federal agency were on time and the fact that the Department of Health had medical coverage for clients in both clinics. 

de Jongh said Monday that in addition to being eligible for more grant funding, HRSA has also offered technical assistance to the department to identify new patients. Health Commissioner Julia Sheen also applauded the turnaround, noting that the department was on its way to developing a model program. “Nearly a year later, in the words of the consultants and federal project officers, the Ryan White Part B Program has officially put out the fire in addressing all the compliance issues that caused the penalty,” she said.