SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements:
Volume 2, Issue 24 (November 28, 1997)

This document has been superceded by our Online Knowledge Base on Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care. Click here to access the Knowledge Base. Click here to access descriptions of 27 Innovative Models of HIV/AIDS Care and the lessons learned from these projects. SPNS/Fax was written, published, and distributed by fax by The Measurement Group between 1995 and 1998.

Information dissemination from 27 Innovative Models of HIV Care projects funded as Special Projects of National Significance by the HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Introduction

Welcome to SPNS/Fax: An Electronic Report from HRSA/HAB's SPNS Cooperative Agreements. In each issue of SPNS/Fax, we will highlight findings from the HRSA Special Projects of National Significance Program Cooperative Agreements. The projects have been funded to develop innovative models of HIV/AIDS care. SPNS/Fax reports are distributed every two weeks by fax machine to all subscribers. All issues of SPNS/Fax are also available at this Web site. Due to slight differences in the media, issues distributed by fax machine may appear slightly different from those posted on this Web site, but the content is identical.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Since 1988, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has been providing direct medical services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles, California. AHF is the largest community-based provider of HIV and AIDS medical care in the United States serving 3200 patients. AHF currently operates four outpatient health care centers in Hollywood, Downtown, the San Fernando Valley, and on the Westside of Los Angeles. Each is located on the campus of a major medical center and provides all levels of HIV and AIDS care as well as inpatient care. Additionally, AHF owns and operates three licensed and Medicaid-certified, 25-bed Hospice/Nursing Care Facilities.

AHF has been studying ways of providing high quality, comprehensive managed health care under a capitated reimbursement system to publically supported (i.e., Medicaid) AIDS patients in Los Angeles County. In March 1995, AHF executed a contract with the California Department of Health Services to provide a continuum of medical services at its hospital-based clinics.

Through AHF’s managed care program, Positive Healthcare, clients receive a full continuum of medical and social services, including outpatient primary care, inpatient care, specialty physician consultations, pharmacy, home health care, and laboratory and other ancillary services. Through the program, physicians deliver care to patients in hospitals, step down care sites, and patient homes. Since social services are vital to keeping targeted populations healthy and compliant, AHF has established and maintains linkages with an array of social support service agencies who serve its Positive Healthcare patients.

The following is a list of the components included in AHF’s care network.

Component of Care Brief Description of Component
Primary Care and Specialty Physician Consults

AHF operates four Healthcare Centers and has a comprehensive specialist referral network including (but not limited to) gastroenterologists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, surgeons, and specialists in pain management.
Pharmacy

All AHF patients, regardless of payer source, receive a pharmacy benefits card giving them access to receive prescriptions at any of AHF’s 500 contracted pharmacies in Los Angeles County.
Inpatient Care

To manage inpatient care, AHF’s has contracted with several full-service medical centers.
Home Care

For the provision of home care, AHF has entered into a contractual agreement with the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Los Angeles to deliver skilled nursing and infusion services. AHF and VNA work together to determine appropriate treatment therapies and regimens.
Outpatient and Ancillary Services

These patient services are covered through a series of contracts AHF has with hospitals and other vendors.
Social Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Through case management and linkages with social service agencies, clients can access insurance benefits, housing, legal assistance, substance abuse programs, transportation, and home meal delivery.
Research and Clinical Trials

In 1995, AHF Research was created when AHF assumed control of COMBAT, the L.A. area’s primary community-based research organization. Research staff run various clinical trials and compassionate use studies. The program is currently doing drug trials on various protease inhibitors.

For more information, contact Peter D. Reis, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, 6255 Sunset Blvd., 16th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90028, 213.468.1353 (phone), 213.962.8513 (fax) or email at peterr@aidshealth.org.

SPNS/Fax is produced by The Measurement Group–PROTOTYPES Evaluation and Dissemination Center (EDC). Editorial comments should be made to The Measurement Group at 5811A Uplander Way, Culver City, California 90230, 310.216.1051, 310.670.7735 (fax).
 

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