LETTER to the EDITOR
Dear Editor:

Over the past several months articles have appeared in various news publications, including Florida Weekly that told a story that the Lee County Health Department did not support the efforts of Dr. Bob Schwartz and the AIDS Treatment Center. They went on to claim that the state owed ATC nearly $73,000 for lab tests. Everyone has the right to their opinion and the freedom to express themselves. My job is to set the record straight and let the public know they can depend on their Health Department to do the right thing.

On 20 December 2000, a meeting was held to discuss the free state lab program with the HIV/AIDS clinics in Lee County. This meeting was a follow up to a letter dated July 12, 2000 that was sent to all Directors of HIV/AIDS clinics, which included the McGregor and ATC clinics.

Dr. Schwartz was represented in the meeting by his nursing director. At the meeting both clinics elected not to use the free State lab services. Some of their reasons were they were getting reimbursed for these lab costs from another funding source, they wanted to remain with their current lab, the number of annual tests per client and types of tests covered was limited, and the type of tests offered were not as sensitive as the Viral Load tests offered through their labs. So you see this was a business and medical treatment decision by the two clinics. The Health Department never billed ATC for these lab tests. All bills would have come directly from lab performing the tests for each clinic. It is very understandable that Dr. Schwartz might not recall the background and decisions made by his staff, some of which may no longer work at the clinic.

Our support of ATC is long standing. In 2000, I represented the Health Department on the Title III Planning Advisory Committee, which developed the successful proposal, an ATC quest for a $300,000 Ryan White Title III grant.

In 2003 the Health Department upon learning that ATC's contract with the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida would not be renewed, requested and received $90,000 in State general revenue to reimburse ATC for uninsured doctor office visits.

In 2005 and 2006 the Health Department provided through separate contracts a total of nearly $60,000 to support a clinic staff position.

In November 2006 I wrote a letter to State HIV/AIDS funding departments and McGregor and ATC Board of Directors highlighting my personal views of the financial futures of both our non-profit HIV/ AIDS clinics in Lee County and encouraged that all parties join together to insure the continued existence of a network of HIV/ AIDS care to the citizens of Lee county.

In November 2007, in answer to our requests for funds to aid ATC, we received $30,000, and a contract with ATC was finalized.

I have nothing but respect for the work and important services being performed by both non-for profit HIV/AIDS clinics in Lee County.

Bill Mallett

Assistant Director

Lee County Health Department