AIDS Funding Increased for Fiscal '97

WASHINGTON—Federal AIDS programs faired well in the budget bill passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton, which included increased funding in fiscal year 1997 for research, prevention, care, and drug assistance.

The legislation provided the Department of Health and Human Services, which funds the vast majority of AIDS projects, with $3.213 billion for its AIDS programs outside of Medicare and Medicaid. This represents a 12.4% increase over the $2.856 billion provided in fiscal 1996, according to the White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

The legislation upped funding for programs that help HIV patients purchase drugs to $167 million, an increase of 221%; increased AIDS research funding at NIH to $1.5 billion, a 6.7% increase; and provided $617 million for AIDS prevention programs, a 6% increase.