The rising cost of HIV/AIDS outpatient treatment-primarily related to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-has been the single most significant influence on CARE Act resource allocation. While spending for medications has increased significantly, allocations within broad service categories have remained relatively constant. Health care services accounted for nearly one-half of annual expenditures and roughly twice the amount spent on supportive services. Decreases were seen in five services: hospice care, 14.8%; home health care, 57%; rehabilitation services, 62.4%; day/respite care, 28.4%; and buddy/companion services, 55.1%. Such declines in late stage services mirror falling AIDS mortality rates and may reflect improved health due to HAART. Five services showed increases: medical/dental, 8.4% ($46 million); substance abuse, 5.2% ($10 million); nutrition/food, 22.1% ($11 million); client advocacy, 16.2% ($6 million); and emergency assistance, 28.6% ($6 million). Such increases are linked with the increased complexity of HAART care and with increased HIV penetration into more vulnerable and marginalized population groups. These data indicate that CARE Act programs are evolving responsively in serving the care needs of those most affected by HIV and disadvantaged by circumstances of poverty. However, they must be responsive to the possibility of treatment failure, entry into care by new populations affected by HIV, and necessary supports for these populations. These analyses will continue in future years in order to clarify the national impact of such factors and the responsiveness of CARE Act programs.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will gain knowledge and be able to articulate trends in resource allocation data on HIV care services on a national level. 2. Participants will develop insight into and be able to describe significant trends/changes in service provision as evidenced by major increases/decreases in aggregate national-level utilization of HIV care serives. 3. Participants will develop the ability to apply and utilize such information in local planning processes
Keywords: HIV/AIDS,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.