House Bill 350 seeks to remove HIV/AIDS training and education requirements for licensed service providers such as physicians, registered nurses, social workers, etc. Both organizations are opposed to the legislation because treatment options change rapidly, making it imperative that all health care professionals know the physical manifestations of HIV/AIDS. It is a matter of getting people in the proper care as soon as possible. This could be the difference in a healthy outcome or multiple misdiagnoses that would end up costing more financially either for the patient themselves or for the taxpayers of Kentucky.
"Treatment options change rapidly, therefore physicians or other clinicians that do not treat HIV/AIDS as a specialty would be hard pressed to know the best treatment options for their patients infected with this disease," stated Bobby Edelen, president of the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group.
To compound the issue, Kentucky lawmakers allowed the Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program to expire. "The fact that the Commonwealth also stopped funding the low-income Kentucky AIDS Drug Assistance Program in 2007 is inhumane, shortsighted, and threatens individual and public health," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.
Gary L. Fowler, a special adviser to the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group, and Co-Chair of the Kentucky HIV Prevention Advisory Council (KHPAC) stated: "I would like to point out that surveillance training is necessary for us to have the best information available to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Kentucky has a high number of people infected with the disease that report unknown risk factors. If we do not have accurate numbers for who is being infected and what their behavioral risk factors are, we do not have a clear picture of where we need to target our prevention dollars."
Edelen continued: "House Bill 350 does a disservice to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by lowering healthcare standards for service providers and should be defeated. The citizens of this great Commonwealth deserve the best representation from their lawmakers to ensure the quality of healthcare is held to a higher standard than ‘minimum’ and enforced with every protection under the law."
Click here to download the press release.
4 comments:
I agree with KEF
I think its time we rally!!!! The state of Kentucky has its head in its ass! I also think its time we start talking to the people in our community and lets get McConnel OUT OF OFFICE! Im ready and willing to help to get these things done! Please call me or hit me up if you would my help!!!
The Bible
AIDS is God's way of getting rid of all the homosexuals.
Agree 110%
I agree that they need regular training. I was told I was going to die until a doctor familiar with HIV/AIDS accidentally saw my chart at UK Hospital and changed my medications. The doctors I had didn't know anything and this was only 2 years ago.
Now the first is undetectable and I will probably live to be 100. It scares me to think WTF would have happened to me if she hadn't walked by and glanced at my chart. But I know, I would be dead now if he had not
Hell ya
You nailed that one it is about time our statewide advocacy organization starts looking out for us with HIV. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
Post a Comment