INCREASING AIDS FUNDING

Because of better drugs and health care, people with HIV are living
longer than ever - in Wisconsin, 5,400 men and women are alive today,
a record number. But that positive development means more money needs
to be spent to ensure that those infected with the virus that causes
AIDS remain as reasonably healthy and productive as possible.

Recognizing that need, Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed increasing the
funding for the state's Life Care Services program by $500,000 each
year for a total of $2.5 million annually in the next biennium. It is
money well-spent, which is why Tommy Thompson established the program
when he was governor in 1989 and why legislators, Republican and
Democrats alike, also have given their support in the past. And they
need to do so once more.

The money is used to provide medical and, to a lesser extent, dental
services to those with HIV since many are indigent and don't qualify
for other assistance.

"It's probably the most important reason why Wisconsin has done better
managing the AIDS epidemic than most other states," Doug Nelson,
president and CEO of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, said Thursday.

But while the number of people living with HIV has increased 35% in
Wisconsin since 2000, funding for the Life Care grant has remained
constant. That means without an infusion of new public dollars,
something will have to give, especially in this era of rapidly rising
health care costs.

Although most of those with HIV are clustered in the Milwaukee area,
the money is used throughout the state, including Green Bay, Eau
Claire, La Crosse and Wausau. The need for medical care in Milwaukee,
however, has increased substantially, tied in part to the closing in
March of the Positive Health Clinic at Aurora Sinai Hospital, which
was treating about 300 HIV/AIDS patients. Since Jan. 1, the number of
outpatients at the AIDS Resource Center clinic has risen 70%, Nelson
said.

Meanwhile, the number of new HIV cases rose 14.5% from 2003 to 2004,
according to state figures.

Although some of the money in the Life Care program is spent on legal
and social services, none is spent on prevention. Nelson said,
however, he does not see that as a problem because the need for
medical care for those who already are HIV-positive is so critical.

Private money and some public dollars are available in Wisconsin for
prevention, including education, needle exchange for intravenous drug
users and distribution of condoms to encourage safe sex.

As controversial as it can be, prevention is also absolutely essential
because it keeps this terrible disease in check.