Dr. Jim Vergeront and the Department of Health Services must change the ASO funding formula.    Under the current funding formula AIDS Network is being overfunded by the DHS to the tune of $172,586.00.

Funding received by Wisconsin’s two AIDS service organizations (AIDS Network and ARCW) has been based on the number of confirmed HIV/AIDS cases in each of the five public health regions.

Based on the June 30th report completed by AIDS Program epidemiologist there are 19.3 percent of Wisconsin residents living with HIV/AIDS reside in the AIDS Network designated southern public health region. (6814 cases less 191 “incarcerated”=6623.  1280 in southern region=19.3 percent)

80.7 percent of Wisconsin residents living with HIV/AIDS reside in the remaining four public health regions; all areas where ARCW is the designated AIDS service organization. (6623 – 1280 southern region cases=5343.  This represents 80.7 percent)

The combined total of Ryan White part B and Life Care Service grant funds allocated to AIDS Network and ARCW is $4,744,170.00.   AIDS Network is allocated $903,188.00 of the total (19 percent) and ARCW is allocated $3,840,982.00 (81 percent).  These figures demonstrate that the grant funds are allocated based on the number of HIV/AIDS cases in each region and bear no relevance to the number of clients served by the respective agencies.

As of June 30, 2009 AIDS Network reports 241 clients in the southern region.  ARCW reports a combined total in the remaining four regions of 1324.    The combined total of clients served by the two agencies is 1565.

What does this mean?

• AIDS Network’s 241 clients represent 15.4 percent of the total ASO clients, yet they receive 19 percent of funding;
• ARCW’s 1324 clients represents 84.6 percent of total ASO clients yet they only receive 81 percent of funding.

The Department of Health Services must change the funding formula and base the dollars received by both AIDS service organizations on the number of clients they serve instead of the number of confirmed HIV/AIDS cases in a specific region.

The reality of the current funding formula results in AIDS Network being overfunded by $172,586.00.

The reality of AIDS Network’s current state of affairs can be seen in the dwindling client counts and in the fact that they are now requiring you to be a client in order to receive certain services.   The numbers tell the story and show that this agency is struggling to regain relevance.  In the meantime the HIV/AIDS community continues to be denied access to a standard of care that other residents of the state of Wisconsin are afforded.

Secretary Timberlake, Dr. Seth Foldy, Sandra Breitborde and Dr. Jim Vergeront:   It’s time to change the funding formula and to quit the overfunding of AIDS Network.