Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
OP EARLY INTERVENTION SVCS W/RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE - Migrant Health Center Western Region, Inc. (MHC), a private nonprofit corporation that has been the applicant recipient of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C-Early Intervention Services Program since 1995. For 29 years, MHC has provided comprehensive outpatient primary health care and support services to low income, uninsured and underserved people with HIV in the Western Region of Puerto Rico. This competing continuation application is to continue providing primary health care and support services to the target low income people with HIV for the existing geographic service area currently served by MHC. The service area includes the Mayaguez-Aguadilla Health Region (MA-HR) comprised by 15 municipalities: Aguada, Aguadilla, Añasco, Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros, Isabela, Lajas, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Moca, Rincon, Sabana Grande, San German, and San Sebastian; and two municipalities of the Ponce Health Region: Guanica and Yauco. The MA-HR is the sixth health region with the highest number of cumulative cases with a prevalence of people with HIV between 334 and 65 per 100,000 persons for individual municipalities. As of April 30, 2024, the PR Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program reported 1,395 persons with HIV infection in the MA-HR, of which 720 (52%) were AIDS cases. Requested funding is to continue providing essential on-site services for the people with HIV, specialized HIV/AIDS primary medical care including physician and nursing services; diagnostic laboratory testing; pharmaceuticals; oral health care including prophylaxis, restorations, therapeutic services and prosthesis; health maintenance and promotion services; clinical case management with treatment adherence counseling; nutrition; referrals; eligibility assistance; non-medical case management; and medical transportation services. MHC’s target population group is the low income, uninsured and underserved Hispanic, adult population with a diagnosis of HIV in the Western Region that are in need for HIV related primary care. In 2023, MHC served 287 patients, of which 217 (76%) were male and 70 females (24%); 100% were Hispanic-all races; 70.5% at 100% or below of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and 90.9% at or below 200% of FPL. The principal modes of transmission were MSM (48.8%); heterosexual contact (40.4%); and IDU (13.7%). In 2023, there were 64 patients (22.3%) that had developed AIDS, as defined by the CDC. The identified highly impacted subpopulations at MHC are MSM, Heterosexual contact and IDU, with identified disparities and greatest needs in patients 29 years or younger. A total of 225 patients are proposed to be served for each calendar year (2025-2027) and 7 proposed as new clients per year (21 for 2025-2027).
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).