Washington, D.C.-Based Whitman-Walker Clinic Announces Staff, Program Reductions

The Whitman-Walker Clinic -- a not-for-profit health organization that is the largest HIV/AIDS service provider in the Washington, D.C., area -- on Tuesday announced that it will be reducing some staff and programs, the Washington Post reports. The clinic announced that it plans to close its office in Northern Virginia, which provides services to 1,100 clients, and shut down an eight-bed residential addiction program in the district. The clinic also announced that it will lay off 45 employees.

According to Donald Blanchon, Whitman-Walker CEO, the cuts are because of the current economic situation. He added that government reimbursement for services has not equaled the increasing cost of providing care. In addition, private donations have decreased by 29% compared with last year, the Post reports. Blanchon said that former clients of the clinic's Northern Virginia office can access services at Whitman-Walker's two locations in the district (Hull, Washington Post, 12/17). The clinic recently sold its property for $8 million to address increasing debt, and the organization will continue to operate in a new, smaller space two blocks from the old location. The clinic currently serves about 10,000 clients, 3,400 of whom are living with HIV (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 12/16).

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