U.S. News New Mexico HIV Funding in CrisisJune 2, 2004 In the next few weeks, New Mexico Health Secretary Patricia Montoya is
to consider a recommendation from the Public Health Division (PHD) that the
state join 11 others that have closed enrollment to new clients who cannot
afford HIV drugs or health insurance.
Adapted from:According to Don Torres, the state's AIDS director, New Mexico has 587 HIV/AIDS patients who receive 78 drugs through the Health Department. Even as the number of patients needing the drugs has continued to rise, the state has faced flat funding from the federal government. According to PHD Director Joyce Naseyowma-Chalan, 63 percent of the division's HIV money comes from the federal government. In part because patients lobbied for funds, New Mexico has had one of the nation's model HIV programs. But as improved drugs have kept patients alive longer, urgency about the matter has receded, said patient advocate Dana Rice. POZ Coalition has worked with Sen. Phil Griego (D-San Jose) to propose the Billy Griego Act to next year's Legislature. Named for the senator's brother who died of AIDS complications in 1987, the act would take HIV money from the general fund and put it in a designated pool. Gov. Bill Richardson has not reviewed the proposed legislation, said Jessica Sutin, his health-policy adviser. Associated Press 06.02.04 This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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