OP EARLY INTERVENTION SVCS W/RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE - Summary of Requestor: Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc., (AAPHC), established in 1979, is a federally funded and NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Accredited Community Health Center (CHC) located in Albany, Georgia. AAPHC operates two Ryan White Part C service delivery locations (in Albany and Thomasville, Georgia) in addition to eighteen CHC service delivery locations, nine SBHC service delivery locations, one administrative facility, and two pharmacy sites. AAPHC, through the Ryan White Part C Program, provides HIV early intervention and primary care services. AAPHC was awarded $526,459, in MAI funds, in FY 2024-2025. Epidemiology in the Service Area: Over 2,500 individuals were diagnosed with HIV in Georgia in 2019 (age 13 and older). 79% of these were male, 19% female, and 2% transgender. 20% of these were diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months emphasizing the need for earlier testing, linkage, and retention in care for persons living with HIV infection. In 2019 there were 760 deaths among PLWHA with only half of those deaths being HIV-related. Current/Key HIV Service Activities: AAPHC has been an essential component of the HIV/AIDS health care delivery system, in Southwest Georgia, since the first HIV/AIDS cases were reported and diagnosed (in the area) in 1983. AAPHC, currently, provides more than 80% of individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, in Southwest Georgia, with care/services. The remaining 20% of individuals, diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, receive care/services from/through their primary care or other provider. AAPHC provides a comprehensive continuum of outpatient HIV primary care services. Services are available on-site and/or through formal referral arrangement and include case management, counseling, testing, partner counseling, laboratory services, pharmacy assistance, eligibility assistance, housing assistance, food assistance, oral health care, mental health care, health education, nutritional counseling, permanency planning, transportation services, and comprehensive outreach. Target Population: AAPHC serves the residents of Georgia Health District 8-2. Georgia Health District 8-2 includes Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Worthy, Terrell, Colquitt, Thomas, Grady, Seminole, Miller, Early, and Decatur Counties. AAPHC offers services to all residents of Georgia Health District 8-2. Particular attention, however, is directed at reaching the low income, uninsured, underinsured, vulnerable populations, and individuals enrolled in Medicaid/Medicare. Health District 8-2 has high unemployment, racial diversity, HPSA/MUA status, poor health status indicators, high morbidity/mortality rates, and pervasive poverty. Much of Health District 8-2 is, additionally, rural. According to the AAPHC Annual Data Reports, AAPHC provided 1,283 HIV/AIDS users with 6,492 encounters in 2023. Funding Request: AAPHC is requesting $910,111 in funds for the key services afforded to the target population through this competing continuation funding initiative.
