Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program - Summary of Request: AID Atlanta, Inc, founded in 1982 in response to the devastating impact HIV was having on the Atlanta community, is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization with a mission to reduce new HIV infections and improve the quality of life of its members and the community by breaking barriers and building community. Over its 41-year history, AID Atlanta, Inc. expanded its services to provide a comprehensive continuum of care, including medical case management, HIV medical care, and prevention services through its midtown Atlanta location. In 2015, AID Atlanta became a direct recipient of Ryan White funding to provide HIV outpatient ambulatory health care services to patients residing in the twelve county Public Health District four (LaGrange) after the Public Health District department requested that AID Atlanta assume the program. As the only comprehensive Ryan White funded HIV medical service provider in the district, AID Atlanta requests continued Ryan White Part C funding for our Newnan Healthcare Center (HCC) to continue providing core medical services, and additional support services for the HIV positive residents of this health district. Proposed Activities: AID Atlanta is requesting $634,969 in continued and expanded funding in order to maintain and expand its capacity to serve those in need of HIV healthcare living in the LaGrange Public Health District 4 by: (1) increasing access to HIV testing and counseling, and linkage to medical care for those newly diagnosed within 3 months of diagnosis, (2) increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for unengaged individuals, (3) providing medical case management (via linkages and referrals) to ensure follow-up care, treatment and adherence for those persons with HIV; and mental health services to address psychological needs and (4) providing medical evaluation and clinical care to include CD4 cell monitoring, viral load and resistance testing, antiretroviral therapy, treatment and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections, routine immunizations, clinical preventive services, prevention of perinatal transmission, access to oral healthcare, access to nutrition counseling and patient education, and (5) providing support services that assist with retention in medical care, including transportation assistance and emergency access to medications. Target Population: The target population of AID Atlanta's Newnan Healthcare Center includes underserved, low-income (51% currently below 100% FPL), and primarily uninsured (61%) HIV positive people living in suburban and rural areas in the public health district #4. The population of the clinic is primarily comprised of African Americans of all genders (71%), men who have sex with men (45%), female (26%) and people who identify as heterosexual (49%). The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) estimated that at the end of 2022, 2,926 people were living with HIV in the district, 1225(44%) of whom were not retained in care. At the end of 2023, in our AID Atlanta Newnan HCC, 88%+ of patients were taking anti-retroviral medications, and 91% were virally suppressed. With an estimated district-wide viral suppression rate of only 65% reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health epidemiological division, the AID Atlanta Newnan HCC will prioritize engaging those in the district who are out of care, while increasing the medication adherence and viral suppression rates of existing patients.
