Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Summary

• First Signed Into Law: 1990
• Latest Action: Reauthorized and amended on October 30, 2009 (view the original legislation and the latest reauthorization)
• Administered By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, HIV/AIDS Bureau (view the HRSA page about the program)

Key Points

• The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, also known as the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, is the largest federal program dedicated to providing treatment and care to people living with HIV.
• Ryan White programs serve half a million Americans per year.
• Medical Nutrition Therapy improves health outcomes in patients with HIV infection, facilitates access to adequate dietary intake, and is essential to the adherence and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS medications.
• A patient can be provided with a diet specifically tailored to his or her unique combination of illnesses for only $20 per day.
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics supports robust funding for the provision of food and nutrition services in the Ryan White program.

Download the Academy’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program issue brief for additional information about the legislation.