RICHMOND, VA — Equality Virginia and HIV service providers across the Commonwealth are urging members of the Virginia General Assembly to include restoration of Ryan White Part B funding in the final state budget and to move quickly to provide certainty for providers, patients, and communities affected by ongoing delays in the budget process.
For more than a year, HIV service providers have operated under significant strains following the loss of nearly $20M in funding that supported Virginia’s HIV care and treatment safety net. While both the House and Senate included funding to partially restore these investments in their respective budget proposals, providers remain without a final budget agreement as negotiations continue.
Ryan White Part B funding supports critical HIV care, treatment, and support services for low-income Virginians living with HIV , helping connect people to medical care, maintain treatment adherence, access transportation and supportive services, and achieve viral suppression.
“With budget negotiations still unresolved, providers are being forced to make difficult decisions without knowing what resources will be available to serve their communities,” said Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia. “The people impacted by these decisions are Virginians living with HIV who rely on consistent access to care, treatment, and support services. Every day of uncertainty makes planning more difficult for providers and creates unnecessary stress for the communities they serve. We urge lawmakers to finalize a budget that restores this critical funding and gives providers the stability they need to continue their lifesaving work.”
“The Eastern Region of Virginia carries the largest burden of HIV cases in the Commonwealth. The loss of $550,000 in funding to our agency alone has significantly impacted our ability to link newly diagnosed individuals to care, retain clients in treatment, and provide the supportive services that help people achieve viral suppression,” said Gwendolyn Ellis-Wilson, Director of Operations at Minority AIDS Support Services. “As state budget negotiations continue, providers cannot afford further delays in restoring this critical funding. Sustained investment is essential to ensuring no Virginian living with HIV is left behind.”
“Ryan White funding is a lifeline for some of our community’s most vulnerable individuals, ensuring access to medical care, medications, case management, and support services,” said Anita Bennett, Executive Director at Daily Planet Health Services. “Due to funding constraints, we have already been forced to eliminate vital services, and without additional investment, we could be forced to place Ryan White clients on waitlists for care. This funding is essential to ensuring providers can maintain the staff and resources necessary to deliver critical medical care and keep people healthy, housed, and engaged in treatment.”
“Most people never see the moment someone decides not to refill a prescription because money is tight, misses an appointment because transportation is out of reach, or hesitates to ask for help because they aren’t sure where to turn,” said Stacie Walls, Chief Executive Officer at LGBT Life Center. “For many Virginians living with HIV , those decisions are shaped by the systems of care that support them. Public funding is about ensuring those systems remain strong, reliable, and accessible. When that certainty disappears, the people who feel it first are the Virginians who depend on these services every day.”
“At FAHASS, we see every day what Virginia’s Ryan White Part B funding makes possible: people living with HIV staying connected to care, staying healthy, and staying alive,” said Joseph Lyttle, Executive Director at Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services (FAHASS). “The continued uncertainty around this funding isn’t an abstraction for us—it’s the difference between a client making their next medical appointment or falling out of care entirely. Our community-based organizations are the safety net that keeps Virginians healthy and out of crisis.”
“Those of us fortunate enough to still receive some level of Ryan White Part B funding are doing everything we can to help meet the growing gaps in services across our communities. We hope our legislators will do the same,” said Karen Legato, Executive Director at Health Brigade. “This funding is critical to maintaining the HIV care infrastructure that remains in Virginia and ensuring providers can continue serving patients while longer-term funding solutions are explored. We urge lawmakers to restore this funding and provide the stability providers need to continue their work.”
Advocates and providers emphasized that restoring Ryan White Part B funding is not only a public health investment but also a commitment to maintaining the health care infrastructure that supports some of Virginia’s most vulnerable communities.
“As lawmakers continue negotiations on the final state budget ahead of the June 30 deadline, time is running short for providers and patients who have already spent more than a year navigating uncertainty,” Rahaman said. “The health and wellbeing of thousands of Virginians depends on restoring this critical funding.”
Media Contact:
Reed Williams, Communications Director
Equality Virginia
About Equality Virginia
Equality Virginia (EV) is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates and organizes across Virginia to build a future where all LGBTQ+ people thrive. Learn more at equalityvirginia.org
About the Participating Ryan White Service Providers Minority AIDS Support Services is a minority-owned and operated nonprofit that supports Hampton Roads by providing free HIV and STI testing, food, and help with signing up for insurance and PrEP. Learn more at minorityaidssupport.org
Daily Planet Health Services is a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides accessible, comprehensive, and integrated quality health services to anyone regardless of their housing, financial, or insurance status. Learn more at dailyplanetva.org
LGBT Life Center is a nonprofit organization that strengthens LGBTQ+ communities and all individuals living with HIV in Southeastern Virginia through improving health and wellness, supporting families and community, and providing transformative education and advocacy. Learn more at lgbtlifecenter.org
Fredericksburg Area Health and Support Services (FAHASS) provides medical, social, and emotional services to help people living with HIV in Fredericksburg and the surrounding region manage their health and live fulfilling lives. Learn more at fahass.org
Health Brigade, formerly known as Fan Free Clinic, is a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides health care and wellness services to those least served in a caring and nonjudgmental environment, addressing medical, dental, and mental health needs. Learn more at healthbrigade.org