Improving HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment for Vulnerable Populations

The HIV Health Services section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health requests FY 2008 earmark funding through the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to support a series of critical enhancements to the HIV/AIDS service delivery system in San Francisco, California. The goal of this program is to enhance the quality and length of life of underserved, minority, and low income populations living with HIV/AIDS, while creating cost-effective models of care and treatment access which will maximize utilization of Medicaid and Medicare funding streams. The objective of this project is to provide comprehensive HIV outreach, testing, and referral services for at least 995 high-risk, low-income men and women who are currently not receiving medical care. The program will also implement and test a range of innovative strategies for reaching and serving individuals living with HIV on low incomes, incorporating multi-disciplinary support services to help retain persons with low income in care and to ensure their long term utilization of HIV treatment and medications.