HealthHIV Surveys HIV and Primary Care Providers

Two-thirds of HIV treatment providers nationally report increased caseloads, and more than one-third report inadequate reimbursement as a barrier to expanding their practices, a new report shows. Published by the Washington-based HealthHIV, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance effective HIV prevention, care and support, the “Second Annual HealthHIV State of HIV Primary Care Survey” includes data from 1,806 US-based respondents.

Set against a landscape of federal efforts to increase health insurance coverage, the survey found a scarcity of new HIV care providers. Moreover, 22 percent of primary care providers cite reimbursement issues as a significant barrier for their providing HIV services.

Based on survey responses, a “typical” HIV primary care provider is female (58 percent), non-Hispanic (83 percent), and white (68 percent). She has an M.D. (58 percent), is 50- to 59-years old (40 percent), and lives in an urban community (64 percent). Furthermore, she is a family practice specialist (46 percent), practicing in the South (39 percent), in a community health center (36 percent).

For more information about the survey, visit: http://www.HealthHIV.org.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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