Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Hiv topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves federal Ryan White and HIV prevention grants for county public health programs
Summary
Supervisors unanimously approved four contracts and grant items that provide federal funding for HIV care and prevention services, county health officials said.
Maricopa County supervisors unanimously approved items 52 through 55, four related contracts and grants that fund HIV care and prevention work delivered by the county public-health department.
Marcy Flanagan, assistant county manager for health and legal services, told the board that the items represent federal funding that flows through the state to local public-health departments. Item 52 covers Ryan White Part B funding — a federal program that acts as payer of last resort for low-income people diagnosed with HIV and pays for services such as transportation to appointments, help with medications and co-pays, and in some cases hospice care. Flanagan said item 52 is for $3,000,000.
Flanagan also said items 53 through 55 support prevention and education efforts. She told supervisors Maricopa County has nationally high rates of HIV and high rates of syphilis, and that the programs fund outreach, testing and prevention services targeted at at-risk populations. “When you have high rates of HIV, it makes your community more susceptible to other STIs being transmitted in the community,” Flanagan said.
Vice Chair Brophy McGee asked whether trends have improved; Flanagan said rates are starting to level but remain high. Flanagan and board members emphasized that the federal grants supplement county funding and that without them the county would either reduce services or have to shift general-fund dollars to maintain programs.
The board moved and seconded approval of items 52 through 55, and the items passed unanimously.
