Reprieve likely for HIV/AIDS funding

Utah’s Ryan White program may no longer be at risk of falling casualty to Republican angst over health care reform.

Legislative leaders held off on reauthorizing the grant program while they pondered why the state should subsidize health care for low-income HIV/AIDS patients, reasoning such patients will eventually be covered under the federal health overhaul.

But Utah doesn’t subsidize the program — not with hard cash.

And knowing that, Senate President Michael Waddoups now says he sees no reason to discontinue it.