Florida: Orange County Sued Over Tainted AIDS Pharmacy Bid Process by AHF

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, will host a press conference in Orlando on Tuesday, October 7^th immediately prior to the Board of County Commissioners Meeting announcing its lawsuit against Orange County officials over the tainted bid process for the County’s recently-awarded contract for AIDS pharmacy services. 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 intend to speak before the County Commissioners during the Board 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.

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,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “It appears that with this bid process, 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.”

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. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Media Contact:
Mike Kahane, AHF Bureau Chief, Southern Region
954-522-3132
Mobile: 786-863-9765
michael.kahane@aidshealth.org
or
Alternate Media Contact:
Ged Kenslea, 323-860-5225
Mobile: 323-791-5526
gedk@aidshealth.org