Thursday, April 24, 2025
4/24/2025
Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program - PROJECT ABSTRACT Project Title: HIV Early Intervention Services Program Existing Geographic Service Areas Applicant Organization Name: Regional Medical Center at Lubec Grant #H76HA00729 Address: 43 South Lubec Road, Lubec, Maine 04652 Project Director: Erica Famous Contact phone numbers: 207-733-1090, 207-733-2847 (Fax) E-mail address: efamous@rmcl.org Funding Requested: $347,977 in federal support Service Area: The proposed service area covers 60% of the state of Maine and includes the northern five counties: Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington as described in funding opportunity announcement number HRSA-25-003. HIV Epidemiology: Maine is a low-incidence state with a challenging rural geography for the delivery of HIV care. The population of identified people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the northern 5 counties known to the CDC in 2022 was 271. This represents a 6% increase over the past three years. The percent of new diagnoses concurrently identified as AIDS in Maine increased from 19% in 2016 to 27% in 2022 and about 60% of Northern Maine Ryan White Part C patients are identified as ever being diagnosed with AIDS, compared to 50% for Maine. From 2020-2022, the Northern Maine Ryan White Part C Program served 80% men, 18% women, and 2% transgender. The fractions of MSM, 59%, IDU, 10%, and Heterosexual PLWHA (23%) were similar to those of Maine (61%, 10%, and 21%) and the U.S. (58%, 10%, & 25%). During this time, the patient population was predominately white, 90%, with just 3% African American, 2% Native American, 2% Asian, 3% Multiracial/Unknown, and 9% Hispanic. Maine shows racial and ethnic disparities in rates of new infection comparable to the U.S. Although the fraction of new diagnoses affecting blacks (26%) is lower than for the U.S., it are comparable when the general population demographics are taken into account. Maine’s population in 2019 included 94% whites and only 1.6% black and 1.7% Hispanic/Latino residents, whereas the U.S. population had 72% white, 13% black and 18% Hispanic residents. Maine’s rate of adult and adolescents living with HIV for blacks and Hispanics are roughly 17 and 6 times higher than for the white majority: 1,800 and 620/per 100K pop., respectively, versus about 100 for whites. These rates are only slightly higher than those for U.S. subpopulations: 1,250 for blacks, 530 for Hispanics, and 180 for whites. Thus, the lower overall rate in Maine reflects its smaller fraction of these minorities. Key Services: The Regional Medical Center of Lubec proposes to maintain and improve the comprehensive, decentralized, multidisciplinary, client-centered HIV care system they have established in the five northern counties of Maine. Key services provided include primary medical care; HIV counseling, testing & referral (CTR); oral health care; medical case management, enhanced treatment adherence counseling, mental health/ substance abuse counseling; medical nutrition therapy; emergency financial assistance and client medical transportation assistance. Services will be provided at numerous sites around the five county area and in client homes when needed. Amount of Funding Requested: $347,977 Target populations to be served: The Northern Maine Ryan White Part C Program aims to serve all people living with HIV in the five counties of northern and eastern Maine.
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).