February 5, 2009

California Nonprofit Ends Ryan White-Funded Services

A nonprofit in San Bernardino, California, that provides support services to people living with HIV/AIDS will no longer provide services funded through the federal Ryan White Program, the San Bernardino County Sun reports.

According to the article, through an audit conducted by the county’s Department of Public Health in 2008, the Inland AIDS Project was found to be unable to adequately administer emergency assistance and medication through the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program to its 700 clients.

“There were certain requirements they need to meet according to the Ryan White funding stream that they were substantially deficient in,” says Maxwell Ohikhuare, San Bernardino’s county public health officer.

Ohikhuare stresses that with a “shrinking amount of resources and increasing community needs” it is important that service providers are held accountable to local, state and federal requirements. IAP’s clients will be transitioned to other agencies within the Ryan White Care System such as the Foothill AIDS Project and Beinestar in San Bernardino.

The IAP confirmed that as of February 21, Ryan White services will no longer be available to its clients. However, the nonprofit still provides mental-health counseling, intensive home-based services, transportation and food-supplemental services.

Search: California, Ryan White, San Bernardino, ADAP

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Previous Comments:

Maria Rodriguez, Bronx, 2009-02-11 02:25:53
I cannot believe what I just read..This kid fought so long and hard to LIVE!! And people fought so hard to create this Ryan White Program, now u are telling me, that this kid died in vain.That this help and memory is going to die? Wherever you see Ryan White's name , you always saw HOPE and COMFORT.Almost a SAFENET for us who live with this disease.Please you have to reconsider and turn this decision around.This is one of the most important and necessary Programs that have to survive...

Greg747, Patchogue, LI, 2009-02-10 12:59:30
Hmm, is it just me, or is the above article vague? Can anyone ask what the requirements were that Inland didn't meet? Or why they could not meet them? Or is this more of the same - the medicalization of RW services ruining another ASO? Thanks to the Treatment Modernization Act, there will be plenty more non-profits closing.