By Catherine Cuellar, KERA 90.1 Reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-498515.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Catherine Cuellar, 90.1 reporter: Cuellar: For evacuees with HIV and AIDS, the hurricane caused waves of panic. They lost medical records and benefits, and were exposed to new illnesses in shelters. Many also feared their diagnosis would be discovered. Those brave enough to disclose their status weren't always welcome.
Troy, Katrina survivor and AIDS patient: Upon going to the shelter in the Alexandria, the Salvation Army was over that. I went to them and told them I had HIV, and it was "Well, Troy you're not going to be able to stay here at this particular shelter."
Cuellar: Troy, a 38-year-old native of New Orleans who asked we not use his last name, was moved to another shelter in Louisiana, this one for evacuees with special medical needs, then to a group home in Dallas. Staying healthy during the two moves was challenging. Last month, staying on his medication became impossible.
Troy: People over at the hospital where I go for my HIV treatment told me that they no longer accept Louisiana Medicaid. So it was my thing to get it switched over. from Louisiana Medicaid to Texas Medicaid in order for my medicines to be paid for.
Cuellar: The cost of his medications without insurance is more than $1000 a month. He couldn't afford that, so he went without drugs for a week while he awaited approval of his Texas Medicaid registration.
Troy: I'm finding out that because I take five HIV medicines, Texas Medicaid will only pay for three, so that still leaves two of them hanging.
Cuellar: He's taking all five pills now, and awaits acceptance in another Texas program that will cover the two prescriptions Medicaid won't pay for. He wants to go home to Louisiana, where all his medicine would be covered again, but getting a bus ticket home has been another huge challenge.
Troy: At one point FEMA was paying for one-way tickets to New Orleans for Evacuees to return back to the city, airfare or by Greyhound bus. And I was told if your reservations weren't in by Dec. 31st that it would be put on hold. I don't think it's fair for the people whose section of New Orleans were not open to go back, that this resource of transportation not be allowed to them.
Cuellar: He's afraid to go back before the city can address his needs.
Troy: If you're encouraging people to come back to New Orleans, especially with HIV, you must have some kind of hospital clinic set up to treat these people to make sure they're going to receive their medicines, get their doctor care, get labwork in. Before you ask these people to come back, make sure everything they're going to need is back up and operating correctly.
Cuellar: Troy is one of more than 150 HIV and AIDS patients from Louisiana now getting care in Texas. Officials are impressed by the initial response in support of evacuees' needs, but say that far more will be needed down the road, from medical care to transportation. So for now, Troy waits, spending his once-a-month disability check on rent here, shipping his few personal affects to New Orleans in anticipation of a move, and saving for his bus ticket.
For KERA 90.1, I'm Catherine Cuellar.