HIV/AIDS Funding Could Be Slashed

July 29, 2010 -- Counties throughout Oregon could face a significant funding cut in their HIV/AIDS programs as a result of the state’s $577 million budget deficit.

 

The proposed $478,040 cut would eliminate state support for county programs that care for people living with HIV, AIDS, sexually-transmitted diseases and tuberculosis. A decision will be made in early August, according to state officials.    

 

The prospect of losing funding “is very worrisome,” according to Michael Kaplan, executive director of the Cascade AIDS Project, and could result in higher costs in the long run.

 

People who are unaware of their HIV status are the ones most likely to transmit the disease to others, he said, and Oregon already has a less-than-good track record for HIV testing and prevention.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control in 2006, 34 states reported that 36 percent of people receiving an HIV test were diagnosed with AIDS at the time of testing, or within 12 months. In Oregon, that number is 44 percent. “Right now people are finding out much later than they should,” Kaplan said.  

 

If the HIV/AIDS program loses funding, it means that 5,747 patients will not receive their medications; 345 clients with sexually transmitted diseases will not be told they are possibly exposed; 1,143 people will not be tested for HIV; 144 people will not receive case management services, and 71 people will not receive support services, according to a report submitted to Gov. Kulongoski by the Public Health Division.  

 

“We would feel a pretty heavy hit,” said Jessica Guernsey, a project manager at Multnomah County Public Health, which receives the vast majority of state funds because it has such a high number of people living with HIV/AIDS.

 

The impact on Clatsop County, on the other hand, would be minimal because it only has 24 documented HIV/AIDS cases, said Margo Lalish, public health director.  

 

Christine Stone, public information officer for the Oregon Health Division, reiterated that a final decision hadn’t been made, and that the budget was still in flux. “We don’t know if there will be a cut to that program,” she said. We’re still in the proposed, anything-can-happen stage.”