ABOUT PROJECT TIES | FIN AL VIH

PROJECT TIES STRUCTURE

AIDS TASK FORCE

The Municipality of San Juan, through the AIDS Task Force (ATF) Office, which is attached to the Office of Management and Budget, is the administering entity of the Ryan White funds, Part A, for the Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) of San Juan, as well as the “Ending the HIV Epidemic” Initiative in the U.S.

As the facilitator of these funds, it establishes the necessary mechanisms and procedures to ensure that the funds are used in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The purpose of the funds is to improve the quality, availability, and organization of health care and support services for individuals infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and their families.

EMA San Juan

The services funded under Part A of the Ryan White Act, as reauthorized in 2009, are aimed at the population affected by HIV/AIDS who are residents of the San Juan Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA).

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, formerly known as the “CARE Act,” is a federal law that sponsors services for people diagnosed as HIV positive who cannot cover the costs of medical care. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program helps cities, states, and other areas pay for the high costs of HIV/AIDS-related services that are not covered by programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

The Ryan White Act is currently called the “Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Extension Act of 2009.” This legislation was initially passed in 1990 and was called the Ryan White CARE Act. The legislation outlines who is eligible to receive services and explains how the funds should be used. Most of the Ryan White funds are intended to pay for medical and support services for people diagnosed as HIV positive, to help them continue care and maintain their health.

Most Ryan White funds are grants to address the needs of people diagnosed as HIV positive at the local and state level. Many decisions about how the money is used are made by local planning councils and state planning groups, which work together with their respective governments.

Project TIES initiative

The federal ten-year initiative, starting in fiscal year 2020, aims to reduce new HIV infections by at least 75% by 2025 and by up to 90% by 2030, for an estimated total of 250,000 infections prevented. The initiative focuses efforts on 48 counties, Washington, D.C., and San Juan, PR—jurisdictions where more than 50% of HIV diagnoses occurred in 2016 and 2017.

In February 2020, notification of approval and funding was received to implement the Ties (LAZOS) Project, addressing Pillars 2 and 4 of the Initiative, with the goal of reducing new HIV infections in San Juan by 75% over a five-year period.

The key pillars of the Initiative are:

PILLAR 2 – Rapid and effective treatment for people living with HIV to achieve sustained viral suppression.

PILLAR 4 – Rapid response to detect and respond to HIV clusters and prevent new HIV infections.

The Project’s funding period is five years, while funds are available. The activities proposed in the project’s work plan address areas that have not been—or cannot currently be—addressed by the Ryan White Part A Program and must be addressed to achieve the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan and the Integrated HIV Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Plan for Puerto Rico/San Juan.

Who can be eligible?

Parts of the Ryan White Part A Program – Funds for medical care and support are allocated to the Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMAs) most affected by HIV. The Municipality of San Juan receives the Ryan White Part A funds and delegates their administration to the AIDS Task Force. The Program provides a continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS in the San Juan EMA through 24 contracted organizations that offer medical and support services using these funds.

How can someone be eligible for services?

Proof of Identity – Photo ID: Driver’s license, passport, voter ID card, work ID, student ID, or other documents that help confirm identity.
Geographic Eligibility or Place of Residence – Must be a resident of one of the 30 municipalities that make up the San Juan EMA. Applicants can provide a utility bill (electric, water, or phone) in their name or a copy of a rental contract. For participants who are homeless, a Homeless Certification form will be completed.
Medical Eligibility – HIV Positive Patient – Must show reactive HIV test results (Conventional ELISA, 4th generation Western Blot, or CD4 and Viral Load results not older than six months).
Economic Eligibility – Below 100% of the Poverty Level – Can provide the Government Health Card or MEDICAID Certificate (MA-10) showing verifiable income.
Service Eligibility – Limitations for Funding the Service – Must have no health insurance, or their health insurance does not cover the service, or insurance coverage for the service is exhausted, or the service cannot be provided by another public or private program.