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Funding Uncertain For Scott County's Longterm HIV Response

The county that's been hit hardest by the state's HIV outbreak will continue operating a needle exchange program for at least the next year.

Indiana's State Health Commissioner approved Scott County's request to continue operating the program, which started after Governor Mike Pence signed an executive order in March.

That order expires Sunday.

While the needle exchange won't go away, some are worried the funding will.

Local Health Officials Say Needle Exchange Successful In Slowing HIV's Spread



It took only a matter of minutes for Scott County Commissioners to unanimously approve continuing a needle exchange program aimed at curbing the alarming spread of HIV in the area.

During a public hearing earlier this week, no one spoke out for or against the program.

It seemed all of the people in the room had come to a consensus – this was just something that had to be done.

"We've been working really, really hard on this needle exchange program," says Scott County Public Health Nurse Brittany Combs. "And, there was that small chance that we might not be able to continue that. And, people would ask us what we were going to do if we didn't get it passed. And, we honestly did not know."

People would ask us what we were going to do if we didn't get it passed. And, we honestly did not know.

-Brittany Combs, Scott County Public Health Nurse



Since December, at least 160 people have been diagnosed with HIV, the majority of them from Scott County.

The state stepped in to help in March, setting up a one-stop-shop where people can get tested, sign up for insurance and enroll in the needle exchange.

In the short time the program has been operating, health officials have handed out more than 16,000 needles.

And, they say it's making a difference.

"Our whole goal from the beginning was to stop the spread of HIV," Combs says. "And, I know that we are doing that. Because I know personally five people that we have in the needle exchange program that were tested for HIV in the beginning and they were negative and they were just re-tested and they're still negative. So, we've helped at least five people."

County Tasked With Finding Funding To Continue Outbreak Response



Scott County is the first county in the state to operate a needle exchange program under recently-passed legislation.

The law allows counties at risk of an HIV outbreak to ask for permission to set up an exchange, with the state's health commissioner having final approval.

But, the legislation has no state funding tied to it. And, that has some people worried.

"Right now we're very lucky because we have had a lot of donations come in," Combs says. "Money donations and also donations of needles. So, right now, we are desperately trying to seek as many donations as we can to keep it running as long as we can."

It's unclear how long those donations will keep the needle exchange running. So, Scott County will have to look for other options.

"There are no state funds that are appropriated for needle exchange programs within individual counties," says State Epidemiologist Pam Pontones. "But, counties can work with their partners to determine where those resources and funds may derive."

Scott County still plans to ask the state for help with funding the year-long needle exchange.

Commissioners also want help paying for additional staffing at the county health department, which has been working overtime to combat HIV.

They're requesting an incident coordinator who can deal specifically with the outbreak and an additional registered nurse.

"That way it frees up our administrator to do the day-to-day operations that we had before," says Scott County Commissioner Robert Tobias. "We still have them that goes on daily."

Without the state's help, it could be difficult for the county to come up with the money to continue its prevention efforts.

But, county commissioners say if they have to, they'll take the proposal to the county council.

And, they're confident they'll find a way to crunch the numbers.

"Any county that tells you that they're not worried about funding, I'd say they're probably not being honest," Tobias says. "So, yes, I definitely am worried about funding. But, really do we have a choice?"

After one year, Scott County will re-evaluate the needle exchange program to determine whether it needs to be continued.

The State Department of Health says it hasn't received requests from any other counties wanting to start similar programs, but the possibility is there.

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