Ricky Ray Trust Fund Will Terminate in November 2003

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Ricky Ray Trust Fund Program has issued a reminder that the Fund will terminate on November 12, 2003, as set forth in the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Act of 1998.  The lead time of this announcement is to enable individuals with approved petitions but who have not yet received payment to contact the Ricky Ray Program in sufficient time prior to November 12, 2003.

The Trust Fund provides compassionate payments to individuals with blood-clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, who contracted HIV from contaminated blood products between July 1, 1982, and December 31, 1987.  Spouses and children who have contracted HIV from these individuals and other specified survivors may also be eligible. 

As of August 31, 2002, the Fund had made more than 7,050 payments totaling over $553 million.

Certain petitioners may also be able to augment their petitions with current information or documentation that may impact the Ricky Ray Program’s initial payment decision.  The documentation may include relevant medical information, the death certificate of another interested party, or a court determination that a petitioner is a sole survivor.  The following criteria must be met in order for a petition to be eligible for augmentation:

• Only a petition postmarked by November 13, 2001, and therefore included in the Ricky Ray Program system of records, may be augmented.

• Only a petitioner, a petitioner’s personal representative, or a disinterested third party, such as a court, a hospital, or a state department of vital statistics, may augment a petition.

The Ricky Ray Program will be contacting all petitioners who have not received payments or who may be able to augment their petitions.  Petitioners who have moved must contact the program with updated address and telephone information.

Individuals with pertinent medical, legal, or payment documentation should submit the information to the Ricky Ray Program, Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA, Room 4-81, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md. 20856.  For further information, petitioners may contact the Ricky Ray Program at the toll-free number, 1-888-496-0338.

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