98-20953. Medicaid Program; Decision on Funding for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation START Program

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 42055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20953]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration
[HCFA-2030-N]
RIN 0938-AJ13


Medicaid Program; Decision on Funding for the AIDS Healthcare 
Foundation START Program

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the award of a grant in the sum of $1 
million to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation of Los Angeles for a 
demonstration project entitled, ``START PROGRAM: Success Through Anti-
Retroviral Therapy.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Smith, Ph.D., Center for 
Medicaid and State Operations, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This award is made based on language in H.R. 
Conf. Rept. 105-390 at 86 (1997) attendant to our agency's 
administrative budget authorization for Fiscal Year 1998 that directed 
us to devote ``$1,000,000 within research to conduct a demonstration of 
residential treatment facilities at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in 
Los Angeles.''
    The START program is a 4- to 6-week residential program designed to 
increase the ``adherence'' to HIV and AIDS medication regiments of 
individuals at high risk for non-adherence, or a history of non-
adherence. The goals of the program are: (1) To educate participants 
and influence positive ``medication-taking'' habits and behaviors 
whereby they internalize successful treatment adherence strategies, (2) 
to assist participants in achieving and maintaining long term 
adherence, (3) to monitor and reinforce participants' success by 
analyzing viral load and CD4 counts, and (4) to provide ancillary 
support to assure successful compliance.
    The purpose of this grant is to demonstrate how compliance with the 
complicated medication regimen for people living with HIV and AIDS who 
are at high risk of noncompliance can be increased by a short-term 
residential treatment program. The START program provides these 
individuals with a sheltered, structured environment in which the 
regimen can be established and residents can be counseled and 
supported.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.778, Medical 
Assistance Program; No. 93.773 Medicare--Hospital Insurance Program; 
and No. 93.774, Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: July 30, 1998.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-20953 Filed 7-31-98; 4:30 pm]
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