{"id":55544,"date":"2025-12-08T21:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/55544\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T21:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:41:07","slug":"shapiro-administration-cuts-hiv-funding-risking-housing-medications-for-dozens-in-southcentral-pa-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/55544\/","title":{"rendered":"Shapiro administration cuts HIV funding, risking housing, medications for dozens in southcentral Pa. | Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dozens of people living with HIV across southcentral Pennsylvania could soon lose aid for housing and prescription costs after Gov. Josh Shapiro\u2019s administration ordered a mid-year budget cut to the commonwealth\u2019s regional HIV service providers.<\/p>\n

If left unrestored, the cuts could lead to nearly 100 people diagnosed with HIV becoming homeless in southcentral Pennsylvania counties \u2014 including Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster and York \u2014 according to a memo circulated among lawmakers by the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania Inc. and obtained by WITF.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe loss of funding to support safe and stable housing for people with HIV in (the Family Health Council\u2019s) region could result in not only poorer health outcomes for individuals, but potentially also in an increase in HIV infections in the region,\u201d the Family Health Council\u2019s memo reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Family Health Council, central Pennsylvania\u2019s nonprofit regional HIV grantee providing aid to individuals who test positive, warned that it may also need to cut services, including case management, transportation for medical appointments and food support.<\/p>\n

Leaders at the Family Council referred comment on this story to the state Department of Health.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 18, the Department of Health gave providers less than two weeks’ notice that it would cut their HIV services budget by 25% beginning Oct. 1.<\/p>\n

Moira Foster, director of the Division of HIV Health at the Department of Health, also wrote in the department\u2019s letter that it would reduce the income limit for its Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program from 500% of the federal poverty level to 350% \u2014 or from $78,250 to $54,775 \u2014 for an individual.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA host of factors are impacting the program, including the current federal funding climate, the increasing costs of services, especially prescription drug costs, and rising enrollment in the Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program,\u201d Foster said in the letter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Combating the HIV epidemic<\/p>\n

With 921 Pennsylvanians being diagnosed with HIV in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Health<\/a>, the rate of HIV diagnosis in the state is roughly 8.3 people per 100,000.<\/p>\n

Historically, compared to other states, Pennsylvania has been on the better end of patients with HIV receiving medical care within one month of diagnosis. Of the 921 new diagnoses in 2023, about 803 received care within one month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In total, about 36,680 Pennsylvanians knew they were living with HIV in 2023, according to the\u00a0 U.S. Department of Health, up from 34,916 in 2017.<\/p>\n

Slashed funds<\/p>\n

Through Part B of the Ryan White HIV and AIDS Program \u2014 named after the Indiana teenager who became a national symbol of the epidemic when his school refused to let him return to class \u2014 the federal government provides funding to states, which then distribute the money to organizations that offer HIV-related services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNo explanation beyond the need to cut costs was given,\u201d the Family Council wrote in its memo. \u201cThese cuts will result in client homelessness, reduced access to services, and poorer health outcomes for people with HIV.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barry Ciccocioppo, communications director for the Department of Health, said in a statement that \u201cfederal funding available for this program has not kept pace with increases in program enrollment, medication prices, and costs to the entire HIV care program across the state.\u201d A spike in enrollees for the benefits program and a rise in drug costs, he said, have \u201cmade changes to the eligibility requirements of the program necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ciccocioppo noted about 8,200 people were enrolled in the benefits program during any given week in the last year. That\u2019s an all-time high, he said, with a total cost of more than $139 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a $67 million increase in the cost of medications to SPBP in a two-year period,\u201d he said, \u201cduring a time when the core Ryan White federal funding has remained steady or slightly decreased and state funding has remained level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nationwide, the rate of new HIV infections has steadily decreased in the past few decades, according to San Francisco-based health research nonprofit KFF<\/a>. The group also found that people of color are disproportionately affected by HIV.<\/p>\n

Ciccocioppo said the Health Department continues to advocate for additional federal resources to combat HIV, but the agency must prioritize \u201cthe most essential and impactful services to ensure we can reach as many people as possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Department of Health did not provide documents showing whether it had evaluated the on-the-ground impact budget cuts would have in each of the regional grantees\u2019 coverage areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Legislature\u2019s response<\/p>\n

House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, blamed the \u201cchaotic and shifting situation\u201d coming from President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in Washington for the \u201cfederally driven disruptions.\u201d He said the state Department of Health told his office the \u201cmixed and conflicting information from federal agencies\u201d has forced \u201crapid decisions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur social safety net has been shredded, rewritten, and litigated at breakneck speed, with inconsistent federal directives affecting Ryan White funding, SNAP requirements, Medicaid work rules and more,\u201d Frankel said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chair Michele Brooks, R-Mercer, did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

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