1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

SUPPORT robust FY26 funding for federal HIV programs. Cuts to federal HIV prevention, treatment, care, research, and housing funding would: ❌Hurt people living with or vulnerable to HIV by reducing access to critical, life-saving services, and ❌Cut jobs in HIV programs throughout the state. 🤝Federal HIV programs have more than 35 years of bipartisan support. 💰Federal HIV programs are effective and SAVE MONEY. HIV prevention is cost-effective – Each year, there are approximately 32,000 new cases of HIV, and each new case has expected lifetime medical costs of more than $500,000. This is more than $16 billion in new lifetime medical costs each year. 💊The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative has reduced HIV incidence by 21% in EHE jurisdictions – 3.5 times better than non-EHE jurisdictions – because EHE jurisdictions have additional resources to expand access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services, including PrEP (HIV prevention medication). 🩺The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is an effective federal program that provides HIV care, treatment, and support to more than 550,000 people nationwide. ❇️The program has helped more than 90% of its clients achieve viral suppression, which indicates HIV treatment success and prevention of HIV transmission. 💯Maintaining funding for all parts of the Ryan White Program is critical, including Part F, which supports access to dental programs; training and education that helps primary care physicians and other non-HIV specialists treat people living with HIV; and implementation of evidence-based programs that improve HIV treatment and prevention outcomes. 😃HIV research has led not only to effective HIV treatment and prevention, including PrEP – a medication that is 99% effective at preventing HIV – but also to treatment discoveries for other diseases, such as cancer. 🏙️The HOPWA program provides housing to people living with HIV, and housing is a critical resource that helps people engage in care and maintain their health.