ODH announces changes to Ryan White Program
Many HIV-Positive Residents Lose Medication Benefits

Columbus, OH- Effective July 1, 2010, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) today announced changes to the Ryan White Program, which provides assistance to over 1,500 residents living with HIV/AIDS in AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s 36-county region.  Blaming increasing enrollments, escalating costs and a projected deficit of $16.4 million at the state-level, the changes will affect non-core medical services as well as eligibility requirements, the institution of a waiting list and a reduction in the medications offered in the state-run drug assistance program.

The number of patients on the Ohio Drug Assistance Program (OHDAP) has doubled since 2005 with current enrollment around 5000.  AIDS Resource Center Ohio reports enrolling an average of 30 new clients every month for services, with the majority of those eventually signing up for OHDAP.  “Increased testing has allowed us to identify more people than ever in our region who are HIV-infected,” states Associate Executive Director Nora Vondrell.  “In addition, new medications have allowed clients who are HIV-infected to live longer than before.  Then include the fact that the economy is still recovering with added people out of work and you have the perfect storm of more people living with HIV/AIDS in need of assistance than ever before without adequate resources to meet those needs,” states Vondrell.

ARC Ohio is still working to understand all the implications of the state cuts to their clients.  The initial cuts to OHDAP income eligibility is slated to affect around 320 Ohioans, but this number is believed to be even higher when considering changes in the drug formulary and other program reductions such as dental, nutrition and transportation.  “The hopeful news is that case management and assistance with core medical services will remain the same for now”, according to  Vondrell.  “And our Case Managers will work individually with clients affected by the changes in finding additional resources available to them,” Vondrell concludes.

For more information about AIDS Resource Center Ohio and changes to the Ryan White Program, please call (800) 252-0827 or log onto their website at www.arcohio.org.