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 U.S.-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: www.HealthHIV.org.

Back to other news for February 2012