The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3175.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 7

Abstract #47114

Characteristics of Ryan White funded vs. non-Ryan White funded HIV medical care facilities across four metropolitan areas: Results of the ARTAS site survey

Eduardo Valverde, MPH1, Carlos Del Rio, MD2, Anita Loughlin, MS3, Pamela Anderson-Mahoney, PhD4, Brad Wohler-Torres, MS1, Lisa A. Metsch, PhD1, and Lauren K. Gooden, MPH1. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 313, Miami, FL 33136, 305-243-3474, evalverd@med.miami.edu, (2) Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Butler Street, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, (3) Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 625 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) HIV Epidemiology Program, LAC-DHS, Los Angeles Count Department of Health Services, 600 S Commonwealth Ave, Ste 1801, Los Angeles, CA 90005

Background: Twenty years into the HIV epidemic, the federal government is spending $5.7 billion dollars a year in HIV/AIDS treatment. The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act of 1990 (CARE Act) is a federal program that funds medical and support services for individuals with HIV.

Methods: The Antiretroviral Treatment and Access Studies included a mail survey of 143 HIV treatment facilities in four US cities. The survey was completed by clinic administrators, and focused on clinic characteristics, services, and patient characteristics. The survey offers an opportunity to explore characteristics of Ryan White funded agencies across four metropolitan areas, and also to compare them with facilities not funded by this program. Chi-square analysis was conducted to compare clinics.

Results: Ryan White funded clinics were likely to offered services for their patients compared to non-funded clinics including: evening/weekend hours (p<.0001), drug treatment (p<.0250), case management (p<.0001), transportation (p<.0001), mental health services (p<.0001), an risk reduction counseling (p<.0001). Ryan White funded clinics also report a higher number of patients referred from public venues like STD clinics (p<.0233), and Prison/State custody (p<.0181), and a larger number of uninsured patients (p<.0001) when compared to non funded clinics.

Discussion: HIV medical care for disadvantaged HIV infected populations served by Ryan White funds, has improved through initiatives such as adherence counseling, case-management, and outreach efforts. Our findings indicate that Ryan White funded sites are targeting the population in need for these services and are offering more services than other clinics not funded by Ryan White.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Ryan White, Access to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Evaluating HIV Prevention and Care Programs

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA