Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 26, 2006 15:06:33 GMT -5
HIV testing of prisoners could be costly
The CDC recommendations for HIV testing could have expensive implications
for the Texas prison system, which treats 2,400 inmates with HIV at a cost
of approximately $10,000 per patient per year or more.
Dr. Ben Raimer, a vice president at University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston in charge of correctional managed care, said the state
correctional system could face spending $3.5 million more a year on HIV
treatment if all undiagnosed cases are detected.
Raimer said 45 percent of his $40 million pharmacy budget is for HIV care.
Last year, he said, the state tested 59,000 out of 73,000 incoming
prisoners, and found about 2.4 percent were positive. He estimated out of
those incoming prisoners, about 300 more remain undiagnosed.
The state offers voluntary testing at intake and upon request. State law
mandates testing at discharge.
The CDC said it is working out details for correctional facilities, but
wanted to include them in the initial recommendations to avoid delay.
"I don't frame this issue as a corrections issue. I frame this as a public
health issue," Raimer said. "It's extremely important for an individual to
know if they are positive for any communicable disease. It's a matter of
public safety."
(source: Houston Chronicle)
The CDC recommendations for HIV testing could have expensive implications
for the Texas prison system, which treats 2,400 inmates with HIV at a cost
of approximately $10,000 per patient per year or more.
Dr. Ben Raimer, a vice president at University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston in charge of correctional managed care, said the state
correctional system could face spending $3.5 million more a year on HIV
treatment if all undiagnosed cases are detected.
Raimer said 45 percent of his $40 million pharmacy budget is for HIV care.
Last year, he said, the state tested 59,000 out of 73,000 incoming
prisoners, and found about 2.4 percent were positive. He estimated out of
those incoming prisoners, about 300 more remain undiagnosed.
The state offers voluntary testing at intake and upon request. State law
mandates testing at discharge.
The CDC said it is working out details for correctional facilities, but
wanted to include them in the initial recommendations to avoid delay.
"I don't frame this issue as a corrections issue. I frame this as a public
health issue," Raimer said. "It's extremely important for an individual to
know if they are positive for any communicable disease. It's a matter of
public safety."
(source: Houston Chronicle)