Increased STD Prevention Funding Via Stimulus Bill

UNITED STATES: "Economic Stimulus Bills Allot Millions for STD Prevention"
Washington Times (01.29.09):: Stephen Dinan

On Wednesday by a 244-188 vote, the House approved an $819 billion economic stimulus bill that included $335 million for STD prevention. The Senate version directs $400 million to CDC "for the screening and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV."

While the House measure passed, it was not without criticism. Some Republicans said earmarking money for fighting STDs makes no sense in a bill designed to get the US economy back on track. Following a personal appeal by President Obama, Democrats removed a separate $200 million set-aside that would have boosted contraceptive coverage under Medicaid.

The Senate is expected to debate its stimulus bill next week. That measure too will be challenged by Republicans. "Senate big spenders will never be underbid in wasting tax dollars. But how in the world does STD research create jobs?" asked Wesley Denton, an aide to Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

But Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairperson of the Senate Appropriations health subcommittee, defended the allocation as one of the bill's noteworthy achievements, along with $870 million for pandemic influenza preparedness and $75 million for smoking cessation.

"This initiative includes grants to communities for health promotion, immunization programs, health screenings and counseling, smoking-cessation programs, scholarships and loan repayment for health professionals, research, and evidence-based disease-prevention strategies," said Harkin.

Whitman-Walker Clinic to Layoff Employees

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; VIRGINIA: "Whitman-Walker Clinic Announces Layoffs, Cuts"
Washington Blade (12.19.08):: Amy Cavanaugh

On Dec. 16, Whitman-Walker Clinic officials announced a series of measures intended to offset declining revenues and an increase in HIV/AIDS patients whose care is not reimbursed.

Whitman-Walker's Northern Virginia clinic will be shuttered before April 2009; residential programs including the Bridge Back Program will end Feb. 28; and up to 45 employees will be terminated over the next year. About half the firings will stem from shutting the Virginia clinic, and the other half will be administrative and program cutbacks. The administrative layoffs will occur by year's end, and program-related layoffs will happen by March 31.

"We're down 28 percent in private donations this year compared to 2007," said Donald Blanchon, Whitman-Walker's CEO. "For an organization that gets 30 cents of every dollar from private sources, to be down that significantly puts us in a difficult position."

"If you look at third-party reimbursements, typically the reimbursement rate doesn't cover the cost of our care," Blanchon said. "It's difficult to do this work if the gap between the cost per visit and what you're getting from the insurance company isn't sufficient to close that gap." Medicaid is part of the diminishing revenue stream, he said, as is funding from government entities.

The 1,010 patients at the Northern Virginia clinic will be able to transfer to Whitman-Walker's Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center in Washington or the Max Robinson Center in Anacostia.

Whitman-Walker will concentrate on offering primary medical care, HIV and STD screening, and dental and mental health services, Blanchon said. "We're going from 175 employees to almost 130 employees, and as we shrink our workforce to only primary care, we don't need as much management since there's a smaller number to oversee," he said. Any new positions would be geared to generating revenue and improving efficiencies, he added.