Cohen Announces Nearly $1.5 Million For HIV And AIDS Treatment In Shelby County

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that Shelby County has been awarded $1,473,378 in federal funding to help address HIV/AIDS and provide care for those living with HIV. This funding comes through the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which helps local governments provide HIV-related services to more than half a million people each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources for coping with the disease.

“While there have been major breakthroughs in treatment in recent years, HIV remains a problem in the Ninth District,” said Congressman Cohen. “This federal Ryan White funding will help thousands of Memphians living with AIDS and HIV access the high-quality, comprehensive care they need.”

During Congressman Cohen’s time in the United States House of Representatives, the Ninth District has received more than $20 million in Ryan White Program funds to fight AIDS and HIV. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is the single largest federal program designed specifically for people with HIV/AIDS. First enacted in 1990, it provides care and support services to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS, functioning as the “payer of last resort”; that is, it fills the gaps in care for those who have no other source of coverage or face coverage limits. This funding comes through Part A of the program, which provides assistance to locales most severely affected by HIV/AIDS.