Feds approve contract allowing Norfolk HIV clinics to reopen

The federal government last week approved a contract between the city of Norfolk, Va., and the Eastern Virginia Medical School that will allow EVMS to reopen seven HIV clinics serving low-income HIV-positive people that closed in April over a payment system dispute, The Virginian-Pilot reports. The clinics were shuttered after city officials claimed EVMS' billing system--through which doctors received a set fee for seeing each patient--was a violation of federal restrictions on the use of Ryan White treatment grants and rescinded the funds. Rather than change the system, the doctors instead opted to close the clinics, forcing about 400 HIV-positive people in the region to seek care elsewhere. Norfolk City manager Regina Williams on Friday signed the new contract; EVMS officials signed the contract Monday. On Tuesday, two of the Norfolk clinics reopened; five others are set to reopen later this month.