Los Angeles County AIDS Funding Cut
The Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy will receive $34.9 million in federal funding this year -- a reduction of $1.9 million, or 5.2%, from 2005, the Los Angeles Times reports.
A spokesperson for the federal Health Resources and Services Administration said the reduction was made based on the county's previous performance and its changing needs.
Mario Perez, interim director of county AIDS programs, said overall services could be reduced by 5% depending on how much state funding the office receives. The office provides medical and dental care, food, transportation and mental health coverage for low-income county residents with HIV/AIDS (Keller, Los Angeles Times, 3/16).