HCA 430 Special Populations WK 5

Challenges Affecting People Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

Chanda Crews

HCA 430 Special Populations

Instructor: Steve Knowland

September 24, 2017

Re-cap of the Proposed Model Program for People Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS

Persons living with HIV/AIDS are among the select groups of individuals that require attention as well as access to healthcare facilities and antiretroviral drugs that increase their immunities. Also, it is imperative for concerned parties such as primary caregivers, healthcare institutions as well as the HIV/AIDS patients to access health information that conforms to the contemporary society. It, therefore, means that there is need to obtain electronic based resources on data associated with the best-fit stratagem for providing health to the patients. The problem, however, is that the unique population associated with people living with HIV, as well as the concerned parties do not have access to such electronic-based resources, hence warranting the essence of the formulation of an outreach program. The program referred to as the AIDS Community Outreach Program facilitates the partnership between local non-governmental conglomerates, HIV/AIDS patients and healthcare institutions in the provision of funds for the conduction of necessary research as well as providing access to the electronic-based information on HIV/AIDS (Stangl et al. 2013). According to Stangl et al. (2013), the information provided includes the availability of clinical based trials, any legal advice, relevant social support systems, as well as alternative treatment that may be integrated into the management of HIV/AIDS.

Barriers Influencing Health and Well-Being of People with HIV/AIDS

Micro-Level Barrier

According to Bonney and Del Rio (2008), one of the limitations facing persons infected and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS is the lack of funds to access medical aid. It is because in most instances patients diagnosed with the virus, are often unemployed and as such cannot be able to access insurance-based benefits. The lack of employment among a majority of the people living with HIV/AIDS, therefore, is a cause for concern, as patients willing to access health care are limited by their inability to possess funds and insurance coverage programs, due to their failure to finance the stipulated premiums. Bonney and Del Rio (2008) argue that the micro-level based challenge associated with little funds makes the patient forego treatment, as the patient has to prioritize other significant factors such as access to food, decent shelter, and clothing at the expense of HIV/AIDS treatment. Besides, Stangl et al. (2013) argue that the lack of funds is further complicated by long distances the patients have to travel to access healthcare facilities.

Solution to the Micro-Level Barrier

According to AIDSWatch (2015), the creation of awareness is not enough in the management of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the United States. In fact, the solution involves empowering the HIV/AIDS patients, financially so that they can obtain access to the electronic-based resources as well as the access the actual antiretroviral medicines. The second step is to increase employment opportunities for such victims while creating awareness on the importance of preventing stigmatization and discrimination of HIV/AIDS patients from accessing jobs (AIDSWatch, 2015). Also, the enhancement of the Ryan White Care Act will facilitate funding as it acts as the last resort for individuals willing to access health care but are financially limited.

Macro-Level Barrier

The macro-level barrier is different from the micro-level based challenge, as it focuses on a community’s inability to access funding for healthcare. The primary reason relates to the stringent insurance policies established by the insurance sectors (Bonney and Del Rio, 2008). The strict insurance policies are often associated with pre-existing health care conditions, which include chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the few companies that do not conform to the pre-existing healthcare condition clauses either exponentially increases the premiums for the people with HIV/AIDS and in some instance bluntly reject paying of HIV/AIDS linked claims.

Solution to Macro-level Barrier

First, there is a need for the formulation of managed care programs such as outreach programs such as the AIDS Community Outreach Program. According to AIDSWatch (2015), managed care programs promote the funding and access to funds by the communities through elaborate plans, organization, as well as the formation of partnerships between healthcare facilities, insurance companies, non-governmental organizations, and the patients.

Stigmatization Challenge

According to Bonney and Del Rio (2008) and Stangl et al. (2013) majority of the HIV/AIDS patients have also fallen victim to stigmatization and discriminative malpractices. The result is a low self-esteem in the victims, and worse, reduced access to job opportunities, which leads to poverty and poor access to healthcare resources.

Solution for Stigmatization

Various stakeholders such as the AIDS Community Outreach Program, the federal and state governments, non-governmental organizations and the media fraternity ought to come up with awareness campaigns, against stigmatization of people with HIV/AIDS (AIDSWatch, 2015; Bonney and Del Rio, 2008).

Regulatory, Legal, Ethical and Accreditation Requirements

The regulations in the AIDS Outreach Community Program conform to the policies established by the Ryan White Program, which is illustrated by HIV/AIDS Bureau Policy 16-02 (2016). First, the core objective of the community program is the provision of services to primary HIV/AIDS patients and those whose condition has developed into AIDS. However, the AIDS Outreach Community Program has a strict policy on not participating in paying taxes for the infected and affected groups, facilitating burial expenses, and provision of employment to the infected and affected personages. The reason is to conform with ethical issues that may be raised as well as adhere to its accreditation requirements. However, the outreach program will fully participate in assisting in the provision of treatment programs, provision of pharmaceuticals drugs associated with the disease, early detection services for pregnant women, prenatal services for HIV/AIDS expectant mothers, as well as Ambulatory facilities for the victims.

References

AIDSWatch. (2015). AIDSWatch. Retrieved from Ending AIDS in America: Meeting the Challenge: https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/AW2015-OverviewSheet_final.pdf

Bonney, L. E., & Del Rio, C. (2008). Future Medicine. Retrieved from Challenges facing the US HIV/AIDS medical care system: https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/full/10.2217/17469600.2.2.99

HIV/AIDS Bureau Policy 16-02. (2016). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: Eligible Individuals and Allowable Use of Funds. Retrieved from Ryan White Policy: http://www.jhf.org/admin/uploads/ryan-white-policy.pdf

Stangl, A. L., Lloyd, J. K., Brady, L. M., Holland, C. E., & Baral, S. (2013). A systematic review of interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination from 2002 to 2013: how far have we come? Journal of the International AIDS Society, 16 (3Suppl 2).