RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Beginning April 1, Capital Area Health Network (CAHN) will no longer offer wellness program services to patients with HIV/AIDS. This latest news comes after CAHN shut down three Richmond medical centers citing "federal restrictions with the new Presidential Administration." The message sent to patients on March 24, reads: “This is to inform you that unfortunately the CAHN Wellness Program is set to end March 31, 2025. We are prepared to ensure a smooth transition of care for you.” The message also encouraged patients to contact Allison Green, senior advisor for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). A VDH spokesperson sent 8News a statement regarding the service's shutdown: “VDH is no longer authorizing the Ryan White Part B grant to CAHN for GY25. This time period begins on April 1, 2025 and runs until March 31, 2026.  The decision was not made because of federal budget cuts to the Ryan White Program. Our understanding earlier this year, CAHN closed three locations due to a number of fiscal issues and laid off Ryan White program staff. VDH received numerous complaints from clients who were unable to access services.  VDH worked with CAHN to assess their ability to carry out services and administer the grant funds. Ultimately, we decided not to enter into a new contract.  VDH provided CAHN with the names of other Ryan White providers in the area that could serve these clients and requested that they assist these clients in making the transfer. Clients who still need assistance in connecting to services can call VDH's Disease Prevention Hotline at 1-800-533-4148.” CAHN CEO Tracy Causey also sent a statement to 8News calling the reports "misleading." “Capital Area Health Network (CAHN) strongly objects to the inaccurate and misleading statements made by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and echoed in recent news coverage regarding the closure of CAHN’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The public deserves to know the truth. Contrary to VDH’s assertions, CAHN has never wavered in its commitment to providing high-quality, culturally competent health care to underserved communities. The Wellness Center, which serves over 500 patients annually, has for over 15 years stood as a pillar of care for those living with HIV/AIDS in Richmond and surrounding areas. The decision to end CAHN’s Ryan White funding was made unilaterally by VDH without meaningful notice, without a hearing, and without regard for the devastating consequences to patients. CAHN received a letter on March 20, 2025, notifying us that the state would not renew its contract - barely ten days before the program, according to VDH is forced to close. This abrupt and irresponsible action has caused unnecessary panic and hardship for vulnerable patients. VDH’s public claims - suggesting that CAHN mismanaged funds or neglected patient care - are not only false but defamatory. They obscure the real issue: a state agency failing to manage its own obligations and instead shifting blame to a trusted provider. To be clear: • CAHN did not misuse any funds. A past state reimbursement issue, entirely unrelated to Ryan White services, resulted in a temporary state-initiated intercept, which was promptly resolved. • CAHN maintained continuous patient care despite unprecedented federal funding cuts to community health centers nationwide, which impacted many federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), not just CAHN. • CAHN engaged patients directly, offered referrals, and communicated with VDH staff - despite being met with silence, delays, and bureaucratic obstruction. This attack on CAHN is an attempt to discredit a community institution that has tirelessly advocated for the underserved for over two decades. It is also a disservice to the patients who now face dangerous disruptions in care. We call on VDH to correct the public record immediately. In addition, CAHN has issued a formal cease and desist to VDH and will pursue all legal remedies to defend its integrity and protect the communities it serves.” Tracy Causey, CAHN CEO Neighborhood Resource Center, a non-profit that provides education, nutrition and financial coaching for the Greater Fulton community, worked closely with CAHN. Executive Director Breanne Armbrust said the news is disheartening and believes patients will be left to solve the problem on their own. “They're already sick or in need of care and asking them to do one more thing when their acuity levels might be high is too much, and it's unreasonable,” Armbrust said. “We have an overwhelmed health care system in this country and especially in the Richmond area. It can take three to four months or longer to get in to see a primary care doctor. So, I don't know what the expectation is when you talk about specialized populations, like individuals living with HIV or AIDS, to just suddenly go somewhere else to get care when the system is already overburdened, and then you're expecting them to figure that out on their own." ...read more read less