Task Force Also Takes on HIV Services

A task force formed by Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton to study and make recommendations on problems with mental care services in Northwest Arkansas, also did the same for HIV services.

Although the group isn’t recommending legislative action to improve HIV services, they have recommended that additional funding be sought.

With an annual budget of $100,000 that has dropped to $39,992 this year, the HIV Clinic at the Washington County Public Health Department is struggling, said Boyd Darling, Washington County comptroller.

“It’s gone way down,” Darling said. “The money dried up. It’s basically one salary now.”

The clinic has been self-funded since its inception 10 years ago, Darling said. The $39,992 budget for this year will come from small grants and insurance reimbursements from patient policies, he said.

The salary funds the administrative aid position. Washington Regional Medical Center donates the services of a nurse and the AHEC clinic donates the part-time services of Dr. Linda McGhee, medical director for the clinic, Darling said.

The clinic has served residents of Washington and Madison counties for 10 years and residents of Benton County for the past seven. But funding has mostly come from charitable organizations and local hospitals.

A $100,000 grant from the CommunityCare Foundation expired in June and other private grants have also expired. The clinic’s social worker had to be laid off and administrators feared that the clinic would be forced to cut off services to Benton County residents. The case coordinator files insurance forms, applies for grants and helps patients with other services.

During meetings of the Northwest Arkansas Mental Health/HIV Crisis Stabilization Task Force on the HIV issue, officials with St. Mary’s Hospital offered the services of one of its case workers at the Poplar House Clinic to handle the administrative services for Benton County residents.

Hunton wants Northwest Arkansas to take a “proactive approach” to this type of social issue, but, he said, that’s not possible without adequate funding. He has asked the task force to seek funding from Benton County officials for the clinic. Washington County already contributes utilities and space in its health department building for the clinic.