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December 06, 2006
Wait Wait, We Have a Deal
Lawmakers said it was hopeless. Then lawmakers changed their minds. Senators struck a deal to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act. In order to appease those from states with large urban centers and corresponding heavy HIV burdens, the compromise would assure that these states never get less than 95 percent of the money they get now.
The law also would expire in three years, forcing a complete re-write at the time. Given the lack of one national AIDS policy (HHS is supposedly working on it), the advances in treatment and the changing demographics of the disease, this last piece sounds quite wise. Details here.
There's also the issue of premature celebration, since the Senate is forgetting one thing: The House, which passed its own careful but different compromise earlier in the year.
Posted by Adam Graham-Silverman at December 6, 2006 03:23 AM