HHS announced today that it was releasing $1.89 billion in grants through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program “to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS continue to have access to life-saving health care and medications.” Approximately $1.213 billion will be sent to states and territories under Part B of the Ryan White Program, with $813 million of that total designated for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Thirty Part B States and Territories will also “receive $40 million in ADAP Emergency Relief Funding (ERF) for the purpose of eliminating or reducing ADAP waiting lists and/or supporting cost containment strategies to prevent implementation of a waiting list,” HHS said. As of Sept. 22, at least 8,785 people in 10 states were on a waiting list to receive life-saving medication.

HIV/AIDS has killed greater than 25 million people around the world, and at present close to 33 million are infected with HIV/AIDS. The American Psychological Association has indicated that more than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV and more than 56,000 people in the United States contract new infections annually.