California: Hanford HIV Clinic Open Until July

Hanford's HIV clinic has been saved for the time being from closure, after Kings County tapped reserve funding to backfill some state cuts. The news will be welcomed by the 40 patients who would otherwise have had to travel to Fresno for treatment, said Dr. Annie Wong, who runs the clinic. Some are too poor for the travel costs, she said.

In September, the county Department of Public Health notified Wong that the clinic would be shut at the end of October to save $89,000 annually. Wong and supporters then prevailed upon the Board of Supervisors to keep the clinic open, with supervisors asking county administrators to help make that happen.

With the new reserve funding, the clinic can remain open at least through June 30 next year, and officials have met with Wong to discuss ways to operate beyond that date. "She's got suggestions of how to reduce overall costs," including consolidation of lab work, changes in billing, and leaving staff vacancies unfilled, said Deb West, assistant county administrative officer.

In addition, Kings County will ask Adventist Health, which is building a hospital in Hanford, whether the clinic and hospital can work together and save money, West said.

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