Concern over future of UMC's HIV-AIDS program

Saving UMC some much needed cash will come at a high cost. But patients of the hospital's HIV-AIDS program hope it doesn't mean cutting them out.

An e-mail is being sent out valley-wide. It asks county commissioners to keep the Wellness Center open. The decades-old facility appeared on a list of suggested closures last week.

By cutting the program out, UMC would save almost $3 million. But one doctor says you'd leave thousands of patients with no place to go. "If this clinic loses money, no private docs are going to say come on down," Dr. Jerry Cade said. "Let me take care of you even if you're going to hurt my bottom line."

County commissioners are urging people to bring up their concerns. They say the public's reaction will be considered when they decide which programs stay and which go.