We write in strong support of the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage provisions included in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and respectfully urge you to approve these critical provisions in their entirety.
As you work to reconcile the Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2027 budget, we write to thank you for your longstanding leadership and advocacy on behalf of the HIV community. We respectfully urge the Conference Committee to adopt two critical HIV priorities passed by the House: (1) the comprehensive HIV PrEP access provisions, and (2) the robust $35 million funding level for the state’s HIV/AIDS and infectious disease programs.
In order to achieve successful implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), EHE and viral hepatitis programs, resources are needed to strategically coordinate HIV and viral hepatitis activities across the federal government. We urge you to fund the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy at $7.6 million.
The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute respectfully submits this testimony in support of increased funding for domestic HIV and hepatitis programs at the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 2027. Specifically, this testimony is in support of funding for the following initiatives, programs and divisions: Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative – $395 million for the CDC Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, $358.6 million for the HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, $207.3 million for the HRSA Community Health Centers, and $52 million for the Indian Health Service; Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – $3.13 billion; CDC Division of HIV Prevention – $822.7 million; CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis – $150 million; and the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy – $7.6 million. We also support maintaining funding for CDC’s Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Diseases Program and Division of Adolescent and School Health; the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative; AIDS Research at the NIH; the Title X Family Planning Program; the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program; and the SAMHSA Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot.
As Congress finalizes the Labor-HHS appropriations bill for FY26, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute urges you to maintain current funding for domestic HIV prevention and treatment programs as contained in the Senate bill (S. 2587) and in the accompanying report (S. Rept. 119-55). The bi-partisan Senate bill maintains critical funding for existing HIV testing, prevention, and surveillance programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as for HIV treatment through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program. It also maintains funding for the community health center PrEP program administered by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA).