County moves closer to phasing out HIV clinic

<p>Sonoma County's 20-year-old HIV clinic could be phased out, with its resources and patients distributed among three community health centers, public health officials said Friday.</p><p>The draft plan was put together by the HIV Medical Care Planning Work Group, a body of the county's public health division.</p><p>Under the proposal, county medical services for HIV and AIDS patients would be taken over by Southwest Community Health Center in Santa Rosa, Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg and West County Health Centers.</p><p>The move is meant to make the most of dwindling HIV funds because these health centers receive a higher rate of federal reimbursement.</p><p>“It's not going to happen overnight and the county wants to be certain that a viable, sustainable, quality HIV program is in place and ready to go before consideration is given to closing the HIV center,” said Mark Netherda, deputy public health officer.</p><p>Netherda said the next step before taking the proposal to the board of supervisors is to come up with a plan to implement the transition, because HIV services at the health centers will either have to be expanded or added where there are none.</p><p>“As they increase their services fewer patients would be seen at the HIV center," Netherda said.</p><p>Health officials are aiming to present the proposal and implementation plan to supervisors on Feb. 23.</p>