California: Funding Cut Closes HIV/AIDS Facility

The David Kubaskie House for people living with HIV/AIDS will permanently close its doors Jan. 31 due to a loss of federal funding. After placing eight of the house's nine clients, staffers are struggling to find a nursing home or other facility for the one remaining patient.

San Bernardino County health officials learned Nov. 29 that the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) would not renew its annual grant of $128,000 to Kubaskie House. Since that time, the county has provided operational funds to the house, which is operated by the Riverside-based nonprofit Inland AIDS Project (IAP), from its general fund.

HRSA officials said the house does not qualify for funding that is meant to provide food, medical, and other services for chronically ill HIV/AIDS patients in their own homes. HRSA will continue to provide about $30,000 a year for care provided to patients in private residences, said Beatriz Valdez, head of administrative services for the county Public Health Department.

IAP Vice President of Client Services Daniel Brown said most Kubaskie House clients are not sick enough to be placed in skilled-nursing facilities, which are typically funded through Medi-CAL and other sources.

The remaining client is unable to speak or walk due to meningitis-induced brain damage; her sister and staffers are looking for a High Desert nursing home that will accept her under Medi-CAL. The sister said she fears the patient may have to go to a nursing home in San Bernardino, a 100-mile round trip. Some of the other patients at the house have gone to nursing facilities as far away as San Diego.

Back to other news for January 30, 2007