Medical Facilities Promote HIV Testing and Care
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourages everyone to recognize World AIDS Day. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first discovered 30 years ago, and some of the first cases of HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) were diagnosed by VA clinicians. Since then, VA has been a leader in HIV care and has made significant strides in treatment of Veterans infected with the virus.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to being a leader in this important area of health care and continuing to provide world-class care to Veterans with HIV/AIDS,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
VA is the largest provider of care in the country to those living with HIV, serving more than 24,000 Veterans with the infection. In July 2010, the White House released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to strengthen and coordinate a national response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, identifying VA as one of the lead federal agencies in the implementation of the plan.
VA is responding by increasing its outreach for HIV testing, ensuring that all Veterans with HIV receive high-quality care, and continuing to reduce any health disparities. VA has recently simplified its HIV testing policy, making HIV testing of all Veterans part of routine care with the goal of having all Veterans tested at least once.
To promote this effort, VA has launched a campaign to educate both providers and Veterans about the benefits of routine HIV testing in all Veterans regardless of age, gender, race, or ethnicity.
HIV in older patients is of particular interest in VA; because more than 66 percent of Veterans in care with HIV are over the age of 50. Mortality from HIV-related illnesses has been greatly reduced. People with HIV can now expect to live longer, healthier lives if they have access to and are adherent to antiretroviral therapy for their HIV infection.
“Because half of those living with HIV infection in the United States will be 50 years or older by 2015, we must prepare now to care for these individuals, who are likely to experience a greater burden of disease from non-HIV related illnesses,” said Dr. Amy Justice, section chief of general internal medicine in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. VA is a leader in research on HIV and aging through the large-scale Veterans Aging Cohort Study run by Dr. Justice.
VA has all 23 FDA-approved medications available for HIV patients, and VA providers follow federal treatment guidelines. VA monitors HIV care in its health care facilities through its National HIV Clinical Case Registry (CCR). Data from the CCR show that 91 percent of Veterans with HIV who are candidates for antiretroviral therapy are currently on treatment and more than 96 percent of newly HIV positive Veterans were linked to care within 90 days of diagnosis.
Significant progress in HIV diagnosis, treatment, and research has been made at VA. The department has been a leader in HIV care for the nation for decades and will continue to strive to provide excellent care to all Veterans infected with the virus.
For more information on HIV/AIDS care in VA, please visit www.hiv.va.gov.
# # #
###
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.
