Comments on: Federal HIV/AIDS Funding Formulas Examined

By: Marilyn Swyers

Marilyn Swyers — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:26:51 +0000

As an Executive Director of an AIDS Service Organization in east central Alabama that serves five counties covering over 3000 square miles, we are struggling to get our patients into care in a timely manner. We currently have a waiting list for new clients to receive medical care with a wait time of 16 weeks. I appeal to you to really take a hard look at the south! We need help and no one seems to care! Please rethink the funding distribution formulary. It needs to follow the epidemic based on new HIV cases not people who have already die.

By: Julie Hope

Julie Hope — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:03:44 +0000

As a rural HIV/AIDS service provider in the Deep South (Alabama)we are begging for the support of all advocates to hear our plea for equitable funding that follows the epidemic of HIV cases not just cumulative AIDS numbers that includes those who are deceased. In the South we are facing a “newer” epidemic with high incidence of HIV infection and the funding is not here! For our AIDS Service Organization and medical clinic in N.E. Alabama, our rural service area of over 9,000 square miles is overwhelming and our clients are not receiving the same level of services provided in other areas of the country, and that is wrong! Please speak out for funding formulas that are uniform and equitable for all, those persons living with HIV in Alabama deserve the same level of service and funding as those in other states.

By: Julie Lovegrove

Julie Lovegrove — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:52:10 +0000

As the executive director of a CBO in Oklahoma and grantee of HOPWA, CTR, Ryan White Part B funding more than 19 years – RAIN Oklahoma is currently facing a decrease of 15% in our CTR funding from the OK State Dept of Health.
Is the funding being decreased due to a lack of CDC funding, or failure to offer services? No.
This action is referred to as “The Prevention Paradox”
This slash in funding is a direct result of RAIN Oklahoma offering successful prevention education and outreach programs. In other words, people are remaining NEGATIVE in high risk situations.
It is impossible to continue to provide this service with a funding decrease. Our positivity rate is 0.96% our target was 1%. Yes, this life saving education may be gone for lack of 0.04%!
How can this action be beneficial to our community, state, and country? RAIN is not the only organization facing this crippling decrease in funding. What will be the result? What will happen without a complete prevention education program?
I have an answer – I’m sure the 1% (newly diagnosed) positivity rate will be much easier to reach in the future.
Julie Lovegrove
Executive Director
RAIN Oklahoma

By: Erise Williams, Jr., MPH

Erise Williams, Jr., MPH — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:42:18 +0000

As a community based agency providing both HIV/AIDS prevention and care services, we know to well the lack of transparency that is involved in funding decesions from serveral HHS Offices, many offices, such as CDC fail to even follow their own criteria as outlined in RFPs. I’m glad to see that meetings are taking place to look at the funding process; currently many communities that reflect the need as outlined in the National Strategic Plan are left with the challenge of identifying resources to meet the need.

By: chloe

chloe — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:59:57 +0000

We need HIV/AIDS education. It’s very important!! CDC has granted CSU $1.9M for HIV/AIDS education. The number of members on the largest HIV dating&support site == pozspaces.com (if I spell the site correctly) has reached 500,000 members

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:47:55 +0000

The formulas that have been used in the past have fallen far short of addressing the needs of all communities. You can not simply look at the number of cases to determine need as large urban centers will always have higher numbers. In CA the amount of money provided to San Francisco and Los Angeles is far greater than it should be. The number of agencies in these areas that receive federal funding, private funding and individual donor funding far exceeds the amount provided the other counties and community based organizations in the state combined. The need and impact of these funds must be spread evenly to address the needs of all communities. It is unfair to expect people who live in medium sized counties to subsidize those who live in large urban areas. Capacity needs to be increased across the board to effectively address the issue of HIV. The council unfortunately was made up of people from large urban areas. Federal representatives must do a better job at reaching out to communities that have been historically under funded and under represented. All input should not come from people who live in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., or other large urban centers. The people in these areas refuse to give up any monies that could be used to help communities that are not represented at the table when these decisions are made. CDC, SAMSHA and other federal agencies must increase the representation at the table of all communities of all sizes.

By: darrell lewis

darrell lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:12:21 +0000

The extent of under served and unserved in Iowa is far worse than official then waiting lists suggests because large numbers of people have simply given up getting help in iowa. The current formulas clearly are not providing the financial resources so that iowa can provide anything even comprable to the level and quality of services in most states.