 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Mary R Vienna, MGA, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-34, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-1380, mvienna@hrsa.gov
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (RWCA) grantees are currently facing lean times in resources for HIV/AIDS care. State budget deficits, Medicaid cuts and AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) shortfalls have combined with an increased need for care that challenges the capabilities of HIV/AIDS service providers to address health care disparities. This paper will summarize the systemic characteristics of the current HIV/AIDS care environment that are challenging RWCA providers and describe Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) technical assistance projects aimed at supporting RWCA grantees in their adjustment to new surroundings. These HRSA projects provide assistance in performing a market assessment to improve environmental knowledge and competitiveness, evaluating the costs of HIV/AIDS care and identifying sources of reimbursement for currently uncompensated care; improving operational, business and billing systems to increase efficiency and improve reimbursement from third party sources; and fostering network development to improve efficacy, decrease program duplication and increase managed care readiness in a geographic area. Project results and lessons learned will be examined, and audience discussion fostered regarding RWCA grantee experiences, efforts to address environmental challenges and considerations in planning care for the future.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.