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With pressure from lessening federal
funds driving their actions, the West Virginia Senate pushed forward a bill on
March 7 that would allow local health departments to charge individuals fees for
STD testing.
According to Loretta Haddy, director
of epidemiology with the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources, for
the state to deliver basic public health services, legislation must be amended
to allow local departments to charge for delivery services. Haddy explained
that, due to budget cuts and the coming Affordable Care Act, states are moving
to transfer costs to insurers.
Currently, anyone in West Virginia
can receive free STD testing and treatment at local health departments; however,
throughout the last two years, the state has lost approximately $617,000 in
federal funding for its HIV/AIDS program as the federal government has shifted
money to other states with higher HIV rates.
Despite the funding cuts, local
health departments have continued to provide services free of charge; under the
proposed bill, they would charge individuals for STD testing but continue to
provide free or reduced-cost testing and treatment for those who are uninsured.
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.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
