Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program - For over 20 years, the Hendry County Health Department’s Part C program has been recognized regionally for providing quality HIV primary care and early intervention services (EIS). In the past, and still currently for most non-HIV-related services, patients requiring support services or sub-specialty care were referred to Florida’s coastal communities given the lack of providers in the rural service area. The EIS program provides outpatient medical care for individuals who do not have the means to pay for private medical services. This program provides continuous comprehensive health care for persons with HIV/AIDS. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care, compassion, and respect for human dignity and the right to privacy. As it relates to core services: 1) mental health and substance abuse, 2) oral health care, and 3) nutrition, we are making strides in creating a one-site service model. Moreover, we have prioritized resources to focus on innovations to serve the people of the area where they are and in the ways they need. Thus, the program has expanded telehealth and launched a new home visiting program. Our rural county health department was the first county health department in the state to implement telemedicine. Our motto is “We are small…but we think big.” This outlook will be key to becoming a model program in the state. We must think outside of the box to test and/or recruit and retain in-care patients within our service area or those seeking service outside their service area provider(s). Challenges we face include a slow recovery from major natural disasters, a lack of local providers, a population living with many economic challenges, and a migrating Hispanic population. The service area of the Florida Department of Health in Hendry’s Ryan White Part C program encompasses both Hendry and Glades Counties in rural, inland Southwest Florida. Together, these counties encompass 2,166.22 square miles, or 3.3% of Florida’s total area, and support a population of 53,528 persons, in 2022, (Florida Legislature, Office of Economic and Demographic Research) with a combined density of 51.0 persons per square mile (Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, 2023). In 2022, 22 percent of both Hendry County and 22 percent of Glades County residents live under the 100% poverty line compared to 13 percent in the State of Florida. Based on the geography and composition of the region, transportation, lack of providers, and poverty are major barriers to care for persons living with HIV. The Florida Department of Health in Hendry County is requesting $297,984 to fund the Ryan White Part C program in the Hendry and Glades Counties service area. This funding will be used entirely for salary and fringe to help staff the Ryan White program in the region. A total of eight individuals will have their salary and fringe partially funded by this program; cumulatively this funding will equal 2.63 full-time employees. The partially funded staff will include a program director, a physician, a registered nurse practitioner, an adherence nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a medical case manager, and a program supervisor. These staff members will support the Ryan White clients through EIS, core medical services, clinical quality management, and administration. These services are all services that help clients live as healthy and as well as possible. They also contribute to the efforts that the program undertakes to help achieve the goals of the National HIV/AIDS strategy and to help clients progress along the Continuum of Care. The overall objective of the Florida Department of Health in Hendry County Ryan White Program to strive toward a world where there are zero new HIV infections and everyone living with HIV/AIDS is healthy, happy, living without stigma, and stable.
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).