On May 24, Ottawa County commissioners unanimously approved reinstating an HIV testing program halted for five months by state budget cuts. In restarting the program, commissioners instituted a $35 office visit fee to cover associated costs. The county dropped the testing in January after the Michigan Department of Community Health cut $67,000 in program funding, citing Ottawa County as a "low impact" area for HIV/AIDS. Since that time, the Ottawa County Health Department has had to turn away more than 80 people for HIV testing, and four people have tested HIV-positive. "We do have a population at risk," said Lisa Stefansovsky, county deputy health officer. More than 1,100 HIV tests were conducted in the county last year. The $35 fee will be assessed on a sliding scale so that low-income clients seeking testing may pay less.

Back to other news for May 31, 2005

Search the Newsroom archive