California: HIV Clinic Escapes Closure

Despite facing financial uncertainties last year, St. Mary Medical Center's Sister Mary Philippa Health Center has secured a city funding agreement through June, center and city officials said. SMPHC provides free and sliding-scale comprehensive and compassionate care to about 580 mostly low-income, under- and uninsured HIV patients in San Francisco each year.

Last year, SMPHC -- a Sisters of Mercy mission -- learned it would not receive its usual Ryan White CARE funding through the city Department of Public Health, despite "commendable" ratings from DPH's AIDS office for the last two years. The center could not reach target populations, including prisoners, that were in need of CARE funding, said Barry Lawlor, SMPHC's director of community services.

However, in December the clinic learned the city would fund four months of its CARE budget ($193,000) through February. After that, the city has verbally committed to provide unspecified amount of general fund money, said Ernest Somers, SMPHC's program coordinator.

The agreement was confirmed by Jimmy Loyce, deputy director of DPH's AIDS office. DPH will work with the center to secure funding after June from the county health department or the Board of Supervisors, he said. But SMPHC could possibly reduce services, discontinue its program or refer clients elsewhere, said Loyce, who added that it was not unusual for contracted providers to offer services free or beyond contractual obligations. To contact SMPHC, telephone 415-750-5500.

Back to other news for February 24, 2006