Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Associated Press, (12.12.2006) - Friday, December 15, 2006
Desiree Hunter
Outside major Southern cities, "it is not unusual for people living with HIV/AIDS to travel really far distances to get to a primary care provider," said Evelyn Foust, who leads North Carolina's HIV prevention branch.
Alabama's portion of the act's $2.1 billion annual budget is going up by $7 million. In addition to improving transportation services for patients, the money will expand the number of drugs available through the state AIDS Drug Assistance Program, said Kathie Hiers, CEO of AIDS Alabama. Alabama's ADAP now covers only 35 drugs, Hiers said.
Under the revised act, advocates say Southern states will seek to add caseworkers, increase clinic funding, raise income caps to make more patients eligible for Ryan White assistance, and boost resources to help patients pay utility bills.
West Alabama AIDS Outreach's two vans traveled 24,915 miles between January and September to transport patients to doctor visits. "Our numbers illustrate the fact that there's a need for these services," said Mona Ochoa-Horshok, the group's executive director.
According to estimates from the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, other Southern states will see increases as follows: North Carolina: $10.2 million; Georgia: $4.1 million; Louisiana: $1.1 million; South Carolina: $2.3 million; and Mississippi: $1.7 million.
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