PatientFinder names cities with largest untreated HIV populations

Tacoma, Colorado Springs and Salt Lake City are the cities with the highest number of patients not receiving treatment for HIV, according to HealthLeader-InterStudy's PatientFinder. The managed care company also reports that the majority of these individuals do not have prescription drug insurance.

As a result of a lack of HIV treatment in many regions of the U.S., the disease continues to spread nationwide. In 2006, an estimated 56,300 new cases were diagnosed in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tacoma ranked first, with 79 percent of its HIV population currently living without access to health services for the disease, followed by Salt Lake City with 77 percent and Colorado Spring with 74 percent.

Several businesses and associations are stressing the need for an increase in HIV care across the country.

Andrew Laubscher, product director of PatientFinder, stated that releasing similar reports can prove beneficial for both patients and "pharmaceutical companies wishing to grow their patient base." He added that these findings can help improve care "among patients who are not receiving treatment."

People who are unable to access testing clinics, but are concerned about their health, can benefit from purchasing online testing services. The results are typically mailed back within three days.