 Ryan White
Case Management
The Ryan White CARE Act allows people with
HIV/AIDS, who otherwise would not be able to access care,
to obtain medical care, pharmaceuticals, dental care, mental
health counseling, and substance abuse counseling.
Ryan White services are available to clients whose income
is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level (currently
$41,600 for an individual).
The following Ryan White services are available to clients:
Outpatient
Medical Care
Primary and specialty HIV/AIDS health care in an outpatient
setting. Services include laboratory tests (such as viral
loads tests and CD4 counts), other diagnostic tests (imaging,
pathology), and routine GYN tests for women. For eligible
clients with private health insurance or Medicare, case managers
can arrange for assistance with deductibles and co-pays.
Pharmacy Services
Case managers can help clients enroll in the AIDS Drug Assistance
program (ADAP). ADAP is a part of Ryan White administered
by local health departments. ADAP provides many drugs that
are used on an ongoing basis to treat HIV disease and related
conditions. Other medications, or co-pays for medications,
that cannot be obtained from ADAP can often be provided through
Ryan White pharmacy services.
Dental
Care
Dental care can be provided through Ryan White, although
the types of services that can be provided may be limited
by funding constraints. Generally, routine exams, X-rays,
cleanings, fillings, simple restorations, extractions, and
periodontal treatment can be provided.
Mental Health Counseling
Available through licensed therapists.
Substance Abuse Counseling
In both inpatient and outpatient settings is available on
a limited basis.
Food Pantry
A small pantry is available for those case management clients who, in emergency situations, are placed at motels.
Transportation
Is available to medical visits through a cooperative agreement
with Yellow Cab.
Project AIDS Care (PAC) Case
Management
Coordinates home-based services for clients with an AIDS
diagnosis. Services such as home-delivered meals, home nursing,
and in-home counseling are available to people who are deemed
disabled and meet financial eligibility criteria set by
Florida Medicaid. Clients who are eligible for the PAC program
are also eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Housing Opportunities
for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Case Management
The HOPWA program provides temporary rent, mortgage, and
utilities assistance when the reason for the client’s
financial hardship is HIV-related. HOPWA case managers also
assist clients to develop a plan for future financial management.
The AIDS Insurance Continuation
Program (AICP)
Is a statewide program for people who are diagnosed with
AIDS, or are HIV positive with symptoms, and who are unable
to maintain their private health insurance coverage or make
COBRA payments. The program makes direct payments (up to
$650/month) to each client's employer or insurance company
for the continuation of medical, dental, mental health and
optical coverage. The program will also pay client co-payments
and deductibles on an as-needed basis depending on the availability
of funds.
Emergency Financial Assistance
Project Response provides thousands of dollars of direct
assistance to its clients each year. Assistance is given
for eyeglasses, furniture, car repairs, as well as utility
expenses that cannot be paid through the HOPWA program.
Project Response cannot grant all requests it receives for
emergency financial assistance, and requests are evaluated
on a case-by-case basis.
Counseling, Testing, and Linkage Program
Project Response provides free, rapid HIV counseling and
testing at St. Lucie County locations where the agency can
assist high-risk individuals to learn their HIV status.
Clients receive results in 20 minutes. Those who test HIV-negative
are counseled on how to stay negative. Clients who test
positive learn how they can obtain HIV/AIDS health care,
often at no cost. The Counseling, Testing, and Linkage program
operates a mobile HIV testing center, which allows us to
provide testing at neighborhoods throughout St. Lucie County.
The Counseling, Testing, and Linkage team is available to
provide testing at health fairs and other community events.
If your organization serves a high-risk population and would
like to have HIV testing offered to your clients, contact
Kisha Johnson in our Ft. Pierce office.
HIV Navigators
Project Response’s HIV Navigators Program provides
translation services, intensive case management, advocacy,
and medication adherence counseling to our Creole and Spanish speaking
clients. Funded by United Way of St. Lucie County, this
program allows our staff to attend medical appointments
and important social services appointments with our clients.
The Navigators staff ensures that clients get the best results
from their medical visits and medication regimen.
Camp Heartland
Each summer Project Response is able to send up to 30 children
to Camp Heartland, located in Willow River, Minnesota. Camp
Heartland provides children impacted by HIV/AIDS with the
opportunity to have a fun, safe summer camping experience
in a setting where they have nothing to hide and can just
be kids. The camp’s nursing staff ensures that the
children’s medical needs are met, and that medicines
are taken properly.
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