Mark Yannone - Arizona, District 3, 2004 Congressional Candidate, independent - click to return to home page
Issues - Healthcare - Healthcare Budget - Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund
United States Capitol

"It is the people, to whom all authority belongs."

Thomas Jefferson to Spencer Roane, 1821
The Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund was established by the U.S. Congress in 1998 to make compassionate payments of $100,000 to certain individuals with blood clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, who were treated with anti-hemophilic factor between July 1, 1982 and December 31, 1987, and who contracted HIV. Certain spouses and children who contracted HIV from these individuals may be eligible for a compassionate payment. Specified survivors of these individuals may also receive payment.

The U.S. Congress appropriated $75 million to support the Ricky Ray Program during Fiscal Year 2000. As a result, the Ricky Ray Program Office began issuing compassionate payments to eligible individuals in August, 2000. These payments were made in accordance with the procedures described in the Ricky Ray Program regulations, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2000.

The U.S. Congress ended its 106th session by passing an omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2001 that includes $580 million for the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund program. The combined totals of the Fiscal Year 2000 and 2001 appropriations —$655 million—provides sufficient funding to make compassionate payments on all eligible petitions received to date.

We received more than 5,700 petitions -- about 4,350 were postmarked July 31, the initial postmark date for petitions. A confirmation of receipt with a petition number was sent to all individuals who submitted a petition. The Ricky Ray Program Office processed petitions and made compassionate payments to eligible individuals who filed petitions with required documentation in the order in which petitions were received. The order of receipt was determined by the petition postmark date and the random selection process described in the Ricky Ray Program Regulations.

The procedures set forth in the Ricky Ray Program Regulations, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2000, are effective as of July 31, 2000. These procedures supersede the Notice of Intent to File a Petition process published in the Federal Register on March 24, 1999. Individuals must file a formal petition for payment as outlined in the regulations -- even if they previously filed a Notice of Intent.

To be eligible for payment, petitions had to be postmarked or have a commercial carrier receipt dated between July 31, 2000 and November 13, 2001. Any petition postmarked after November 13, 2001, will not be accepted for review.

Find out more about the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund by clicking HERE

Return to the Public Health budget by clicking HERE
......
Site by webDedication webDesign Studios
© 2002-2007 Mark Yannone. All rights reserved.