Free Health Care for the Uninsured Is Coming to Atlanta This Month

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgians struggling with the lack of health insurance will soon get much-needed help when the National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) in conjunction with the Georgia Free Clinic Network (GFCN) holds its next C.A.R.E. Clinic at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta on March 27 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

This will be the sixth in a series of large, mostly one-day C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinics held around the country to bring together physicians and other health care professionals, as well as non-medical volunteers, to serve the needs of thousands of people who might otherwise go without medical care. Since last September, more than 7,000 uninsured patients received treatment at C.A.R.E. Clinics in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City and Hartford.

"As long as affordable health insurance is not available for everyone, there will be a great need for the work that more than 1,200 free clinics across the country do every day," NAFC Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said.

In Georgia, almost 18 percent of the non-elderly residents do not have health insurance.

"We are excited to be able to hold a C.A.R.E. Clinic in Georgia, where the work of free clinics is very much needed," Donna Looper, executive director of the Georgia Free Clinic Network, said. "A strong network of clinics and other safety-net providers exists throughout the state. Not only will patients receive immediate care at this event, but they also will be connected to this network that can offer them care on an ongoing basis."

In 2008, free clinics across the nation provided care to about 4 million uninsured people, including 175,000 in Georgia. In 2009, that doubled to about 8 million people, despite a decline in donations. A $1 donation to free clinics typically provides $5 worth of services.

"It is important to note that being uninsured is not the same as being unemployed," Lamoureux said. "About 83 percent of uninsured people have jobs. At past C.A.R.E. Clinics, we found that many of the patients worked at two or more jobs but did not receive health insurance benefits. Some even worked as nurses or for insurance companies but still did not have insurance themselves."

Volunteers can register now for shifts between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on March 26, when the clinic will be set up, and between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on March 27.

Medical volunteers needed for the Atlanta clinic include doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more. Non-medical volunteers are needed to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts. Help also is needed for setting up the clinic, as well as breaking it down.

Information for volunteers is available online at http://www.regonline.com/Atlanta_CARE_Clinic, as well as at http://freeclinics.us/ or http://www.gfcn.org/. Those interested in appointments for patients at the clinic may call 1-277-233-5159 to sign up now.

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AHF/Magic Johnson Testing Van Teams with AID Atlanta, Inc. for Free HIV Testing Event Today

On Monday, June 22^nd AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest non-profit AIDS organization, will partner with AID Atlanta, Inc. to provide free HIV testing through a mobile HIV testing van in the parking lot of Kroger’s Supermarket, 3030 Headland Drive, Atlanta, GA 30311 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

In an effort to boost AIDS awareness and HIV prevention and testing efforts in some of the hardest hit regions of the United States, AHF began a three week, fourteen-city cross country HIV testing caravan in one of its popular AHF Mobile HIV Testing Units, which are named in honor of and partnership with HIV positive basketball legend Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. and actor and AIDS advocate Blair Underwood. The tour kicked-off in Los Angeles on Monday, June 8^th and culminates with the mobile unit's arrival in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 27^th-National HIV Testing Day. AHF is permanently relocating one of the mobile testing units from Los Angeles to D.C., to provide free, easy-to-access rapid HIV testing in various neighborhoods throughout the nation's capital, where it was recently reported that the HIV prevalence rate has surged past 3%-higher than in Lagos, Nigeria.

As AHF staffers and HIV testing counselors drive the van from Los Angeles to Washington through many Southern and Eastern states, AHF's 'whistle stop' testing tour will seek to heighten awareness about HIV testing in local communities along the route.

"While making initial plans to transport our brand new, state-of-the-art AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, we hit upon the idea that this cross country road trip presented a unique opportunity to raise awareness about HIV testing, prevention and treatment through specific testing events and community outreach in cities and states along the way," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "As a result, AHF partnered with respected local AIDS and community groups in Phoenix, Albuquerque, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville, Atlanta, Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte, Norfolk and Washington, DC to host free HIV testing and media events in each of these communities. At the end of the tour, the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit will remain and operate in Washington, where AHF will also open a free AIDS treatment clinic-our first in that city-later this summer."

"The beauty of these free mobile HIV testing vans is that AIDS Healthcare Foundation operates them right in the heart of the community-in parking lots of popular retail stores, nearby hip nightclubs and gathering spots, at church events-and they provide the testing, counseling and results all in one session, so people get their test results right away on the same day," said Blair Underwood, who attended the Los Angeles kick-off event. "It is important that people learn how to avoid becoming infected with HIV; or if they are infected, know their HIV status, and seek medical treatment, if needed. People really need to know their HIV status today. These HIV testing vans provide that opportunity for free in a friendly, no hassle way."

HIV Statistics in the United States

“Last August, the Centers for Disease Control released new data showing an alarming 40% increase in HIV infections in the US—56,000 new cases each year up from a previous estimate of 40,000 new cases annually,” said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director of AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Public Health Division. “There is no doubt that the South is disproportionately affected by HIV and without adequate resources. On our trip we want to meet our colleagues in these cities, support agencies in providing testing and do what we can to raise awareness about the genuine need for HIV testing and treatment throughout the region. The number of new infections in the U.S. is absolutely unacceptable. We have a responsibility to do what we must to help those with HIV know their status and get linked into care.”

According to an HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation (“The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States,” updated, February, 2009, with statistics through 2007):

• Ten states account for 71% of AIDS cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic. Nine of these states also rank in the top 10 for newly reported cases. Three of the states that the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing HIV testing Unit will visit on its tour—Texas, Florida, and Georgia—are among these top ten states; together, they account for 21% of the nation’s reported AIDS cases through the end of 2007—or 216,199 cumulative AIDS cases.

The Kaiser Fact Sheet also pointed out:

• (AIDS) case rates per 100,000 provide a different measure of the epidemic’s impact, since they reflect the concentration of cases after accounting for differences in population size across states. The District of Columbia has the highest AIDS case rate in the nation. Seven of the top 10 states by AIDS case rate are in the South. The AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit tour will travel to and do HIV testing events in five of these Southern states and areas: Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.

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Governor, Legislature Support Sales Tax Exemptions For Clinical Trials and Free Samples of Drugs

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Georgia Bio applauds the General Assembly for adopting legislation that exempts from sales tax free samples of prescription drugs and biologics and of investigational products in clinical trials and applauds Governor Sonny Perdue for his support of the measure. The legislation, House Bill 59, makes permanent an executive order issued by Governor Perdue in September 2008.

The action by Governor Perdue and the legislature, which voted unanimously in the House and Senate to approve HB 59, will help ensure that Georgia patients and the state’s healthcare centers do not lose thousands of clinical trials. In promoting the legislation, Georgia Bio called attention to the fact that imposing a tax on investigational products used in research and in clinical trials placed an immediate disincentive on conducting research or clinical trials in Georgia. It not only threatened the loss of significant revenues to Georgia academic institutions and hospitals, but also discontinuation of clinical trials in Georgia could have denied patients access to the most advanced life saving medicines. The legislation exempts from sales tax investigational drugs, biologics, medical devices and animal health medicines dispensed without charge in clinical trials.

The sales tax exemption on free samples of prescription drugs and biologics is consistent with Georgia law exempting tax on sales of these medicines. In the case of free samples, these are often provided to patients by physicians as “starter packs” to determine if a new medicine is useful for and can be tolerated by a patient before a prescription for the new medicine is written. In other cases, free samples of medicines are provided to the elderly and uninsured who otherwise cannot afford them. In all cases, these medicines are never resold.

In his executive order, Governor Perdue stated:

“It is in the best interests of Georgians to exempt from sales and use taxes pharmaceutical medications that are distributed without cost for several reasons, including: (1) the ability to distribute needed medicines to persons that might not otherwise be able to afford them; (2) the attraction of clinical trials to Georgia for the betterment of the health of Georgians and to continue the State's place as a leader in cutting-edge health research; and (3) the elimination of an inconsistency in the law whereby pharmaceutical medicines that are sold at retail are not taxed, however those that are distributed for free are subject to taxation.”

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Tampa Bay Shortstop Jason Bartlett Steals Millions of Free Tacos

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hey America, are you ready for some free tacos? Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett stole free tacos for America from Taco Bell®, as he stole second base in the bottom of the 5th inning of Game 1 at the World Series. As promised, Americans will feast on millions of free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Tacos as Taco Bell’s “Steal A Base, Steal A Taco” World Series promotion paid off for the second straight year.

Fans can visit any participating Taco Bell location on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) and claim their free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco.

“You know we had Jason pegged as the guy who might steal millions of tacos for America,” said David Ovens, chief marketing officer, Taco Bell Corp. “This is one stolen base that goes into the record books more than just a stat, but as a steal that fed the country.”

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett joins Boston Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury as the only two players in World Series history to have stolen millions of tacos for America. Ellsbury’s steal of second base during Game 2 last year won millions of Americans free tacos. So while there are fans of pitching duels and the long ball, it seems the stolen base has now captured the hearts of millions during the World Series.

Taco Bell has a long history of “Think Outside the Bun®” promotions with Major League Baseball. In addition to last year’s successful “Steal A Base, Steal A Taco” World Series promotion, the company has also placed its famous “Free Taco” target at multiple World Series games. Taco Bell is currently in its fifth year as an Official Sponsor of Major League Baseball.

No Purchase Necessary. Subject to Terms and Conditions available in-store and online at www.StealaBaseStealaTaco.com. Taco Bell® will offer every person in the U.S. the opportunity to obtain one (1) free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco (Approximate Retail Value 91¢, prices may vary) at participating Taco Bell® restaurants in the United States on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 ("Redemption Date") only. To obtain the Free Taco, consumers must visit any participating Taco Bell® restaurant in one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (local time) on the Redemption Date only and request a Free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco. Limit one (1) Free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco per person. Void where prohibited. Offer valid at participating Taco Bell® locations. Portions ©2008 Taco Bell Corp.

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