Michigan: Ottawa County Will Resume HIV Testing

On May 24, Ottawa County commissioners unanimously approved reinstating an HIV testing program halted for five months by state budget cuts. In restarting the program, commissioners instituted a $35 office visit fee to cover associated costs. The county dropped the testing in January after the Michigan Department of Community Health cut $67,000 in program funding, citing Ottawa County as a "low impact" area for HIV/AIDS. Since that time, the Ottawa County Health Department has had to turn away more than 80 people for HIV testing, and four people have tested HIV-positive. "We do have a population at risk," said Lisa Stefansovsky, county deputy health officer. More than 1,100 HIV tests were conducted in the county last year. The $35 fee will be assessed on a sliding scale so that low-income clients seeking testing may pay less.

Back to other news for May 31, 2005