Philly patients with HIV more likely to follow treatment plans after receiving SNAP benefits

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! Infectious disease doctor Aaron Richterman has treated patients with HIV in Philadelphia for many years. He would often hear patients say, How am I supposed to take my medicine when I don t have enough to eat? Food insecurity would make it difficult for patients to follow their drug regimen. His patients need to take a pill once a day to manage the virus. If the patients can follow these instructions, the medication allows them to live essentially normal lives. However, if patients miss enough doses, the amount of virus in their blood can increase, which can lead to complications, as well as the risk that the patient could pass the infection to someone else. Researchers have long thought that when people struggle to make ends meet or feed themselves, it makes it harder for them to make complex decisions or follow health regimens like medication plans. Richterman, who pra