Abstract

AIDS: A projected cut in funding for the HIV/AIDS outpatient clinic at San Francisco General Hospital and other hospitals across the United States is due largely to changes in Federal Medicare and Medicaid programs. These reductions were included in the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 to cut projected growth in these programs. Although adjustments to the BBA in late 1999 provided some financial relief to hospitals, hospital lobbying groups considered the adjustments inadequate. Contact information for patient-oriented organizations, lobbying on health care funding, and access issues is provided.