Florida: Orange County Nixes Public Comment On Tainted AIDS Pharmacy Bid Process At Commissioners' Meeting, Notes AHF

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 09 Oct 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider hosted a press conference in Orlando on Tuesday, October 7th immediately prior to the Board of County Commissioners Meeting to announce its lawsuit against Orange County officials over the tainted bid process for the County's recently-awarded contract for AIDS pharmacy services. Earlier this summer, County officials announced their intention to award the contract to a private, for-profit pharmacy in violation of federal law. After the press conference, AHF officials intended to speak before the County Commissioners during the public comment component of the Commissioners' Meeting to raise concerns regarding the irregularities and illegalities in the bid process that violated federal regulations set forth under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency Act (RWCA), the federal law that provides the principal source of funding for AIDS care and services nationwide.

However, after submitting a Public Appearance Form (online) to speak at the Commissioners' Meeting, Orange County's Agenda Development Supervisor emailed AHF officials to inform them that Orange County Attorney Tom Drage believed it "would not be appropriate" for AHF officials to speak at the public meeting, an action which fueled suspicion and raised further doubts regarding the fairness of both the County's initial contract bid process, as well as its official grievance and dispute resolution process.

"With such blatant-or bungling-bureaucracy, Orange County is clearly not the happiest place on earth these days," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Not only does the County not want to follow federal law with regard to its bid process for AIDS pharmacy services, it also appears that they don't want to allow us to speak publicly about our concerns during the comment session at this public meeting. It seems that Orange County officials place maintaining the bureaucratic status quo above following the law and delivering services that are ultimately in the best interest Florida HIV/AIDS patients."

Background on Orange County's Flawed Bid Process

The dispute over AHF officials' right to speak during the public comment component of yesterday's Orange County Commissioners' Meeting grew out of AHF's initial dispute over the flawed bid process for Orange County's AIDS pharmacy services.

AHF operates not for profit pharmacies specializing in providing care to people with HIV/AIDS throughout Florida and California. AHF Pharmacies provide customers highly specialized services with expert pharmacists trained in the state-of-the-art management of HIV/AIDS. AHF is also the nation's largest provider of medical care to people with HIV/AIDS, and operates clinics, provides disease management services, operates thrift stores and advocates on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS throughout Florida.

"The crux of AHF's legal complaint centers on the fact that Orange County officials illegally awarded a contract to provide life-saving AIDS pharmacy services to a private, for-profit pharmacy provider in clear violation of federal law," said Mike Kahane, AHF Bureau Chief, Southern Region. "In addition, there were significant deficiencies throughout Orange County's entire bid process that should be of concern for all residents of Orange County. AHF is committed to making sure that the citizens of Orange County are fairly and properly represented and to making sure that the needs of the vulnerable population served by this contract are met.

AHF's legal complaint was filed in United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.

"There were only two successful bidders that met the 'invitation for bid' criteria of Orange County: AHF Pharmacy, a non-profit service provider whose revenues support treatment, prevention and testing programs in the community; and a private, for profit pharmacy chain whose revenues flow out of state to their company's corporate headquarters and into the pockets of its shareholders," added AHF's Weinstein. "We are pursuing this issue in court and in public comment to ensure that Orange County complies with federal law in order that the best interests of Florida HIV/AIDS patients are being met."

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 80,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation