Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
OP EARLY INTERVENTION SVCS W/RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE - Drexel University, Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice Grant Funds Requested: $2,565,930 SUMMARY OF REQUEST: Drexel University’s Partnership Comprehensive Care Practice (Partnership) proposes to continue its provision of comprehensive, integrated primary care and support services in a one-stop shop model supported by Part C funds to people with HIV at our clinical site in center city Philadelphia. This competing continuation proposal targets under- and uninsured people at risk for, and/or infected with HIV in Philadelphia. Without Part C funding, the Partnership would not be able to offer comprehensive HIV medical care to its clients. PROBLEM: HIV in Philadelphia, as in other large cities, is concentrated in poor and minority communities, along a backdrop of homelessness, poverty, mental illness, substance use, systemic racism, HIV stigma, and other diseases including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis C, and medical comorbidities. In 2022, there were 18,685 people with HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia and there were 382 new cases. The incidence of HIV among people who inject drugs continues to increase. The HIV epidemic in Philadelphia disproportionately impacts communities of color. 58.6% of new diagnoses were among Black residents and 19.9% Hispanic. Despite the loss of Hahnemann University Hospital in 2019, the Partnership continues to provide comprehensive HIV care to 1400 patients per year. We work to be patient-centered and support our patients as a multi-disciplinary team, so patients stay engaged in care while addressing competing needs. Thus, the Partnership is an integral component of the continuum of care for patients living with HIV and AIDS in Philadelphia. TARGET POPULATION: The Partnership aims to target a vulnerable population of people with HIV at high risk for non-retention in HIV/AIDS primary medical care and treatment including the newly diagnosed, those with substance use disorders or mental illness, jail detainees, individuals who are long-term survivors of this disease, and patients in other high-risk categories. The Partnership serves clients drawn from almost every zip code in Philadelphia with high representation from those areas most heavily impacted by HIV/AIDS. Consequently, the Partnership’s clientele mirrors the demographics of HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia with 77% Black, 10% Hispanic, 1% Asian and 11% White. The Partnership provides specialized services to women who make up 35% of our patients. PROPOSED SERVICES: The Partnership will provide comprehensive HIV care to 800 currently-enrolled Part C patients, will enroll 50 new Part C patients in each new budget year of the project, and will continue all early intervention services including HIV counseling and testing, linkage to care, primary medical care, dental care, nutrition services, case management, treatment adherence counseling, pharmacy counseling, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, and benefits counseling. GOALS: To maximize each step of the HIV care continuum: 1) Improving rates of people with HIV knowing their status by continuation of testing programs in the community and healthcare settings; 2) Improving linkage to care by building community relationships and streamlining our linkage process; 3) Maximizing retention in care through intensive wrap-around services for our patients; and 4) Reducing incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia through treatment as prevention and prioritizing harm reduction in order to reach 95% viral suppression in our city. This will ultimately reduce transmission and enable us to End the HIV Epidemic in Philadelphia.
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).