Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced $1,007,693 in federal funding to Middlesex County for medical care and support to low income individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS through the Ryan White Program.   

“New Jersey has unfortunately ranked highly in the nation for number of reported HIV/AIDS cases, but this funding for the Ryan White Program of Middlesex will provide critical medical care and support services for those living with HIV/AIDS who would otherwise have no means of paying for it,” said Pallone.  “The Ryan White program improves the quality of life for some of our most vulnerable residents, and I will work with my colleagues on the Subcommittee on Health to ensure the program continues.”

Congressman Pallone serves as Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which has jurisdiction over the federally funded Ryan White program, which is up for reauthorization in September of this year.  The Ryan White program is the single largest federal program designed specifically for people with HIV in the United States.  The program, works with cities, states, and local community-based organization to provide HIV-related services to more than half a million people with HIV each year.  First enacted in 1990, it provides care and support services to individuals and families affected by the disease, functioning as the “payer of last resort” by filling the gaps for those who have no other source of coverage or face coverage limits.