Covid 19: Ryan White Part C CARES Act Supplemental Funding Outpatient Early Intervention Services to HIV Positive Persons 2020-2021

Project Title: Ryan White Part C CARES Act Funding Organization Name: University of Kentucky Research Foundation – Bluegrass Care Clinic; Organization Address: 109 Kinkead Hall Lexington, KY 40506-0057 Project Director: Alice C Thornton, MD Contact Numbers: 859-323-4792 (W); 859-257-3477 (F) E-mail: thornton@uky.edu Funding Requested: $118,505 Project Abstract The Bluegrass Care Clinic at the University of Kentucky proposes to utilize $118,505 of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Funding to prepare for, prevent and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed services are described below under the heading in which the services are categorized. Prevent – To promote individual and community-wide prevention practices, the Bluegrass Care clinic proposes to utilize funds to provide outreach and patient education materials to RWHAP patients. Outreach funds will be used to provide patients with information on hand hygiene, cough etiquette and COVID-19 transmission. Patient education material funds will be used to disseminate educational materials on how to prevent COVID-19 transmission, information about what to do if you become ill and how to care for household members who are sick with COVID- 19. Funds will be allocated to medication assistance to administer COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines when available for people living with HIV. CARES Act funds will be allocated to purchase infection prevention supplies for the Bluegrass Care Clinic including sanitizing wipes to disinfect patient areas and disposable stethoscopes and laser thermometers to reduce patient contact with medical supplies to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Prepare – To prepare for impacts of COVID-19 and the transition to telemedicine, the Bluegrass Care Clinic has partnered with several labs throughout Central Kentucky to provide laboratory services to patients at locations closer to their homes. The Bluegrass Care Clinic proposes to utilize CARES funding to cover costs associated with venipuncture and testing at offsite labs. To enhance response readiness, training and services to respond to COVID-19, the Bluegrass Care Clinic proposes to utilize funds to support the start-up costs associated with a HIPAA-compliant medical texting service to provide an alternate mode of communication between patients and providers at the Bluegrass Care Clinic throughout this period of telemedicine. The medical texting service will assist in addressing the changes in the RWHAP client eligibility and recertification process and will assist with medication management and refill requests in response to the COVID- 19 pandemic as medical visits shift from in-person to telemedicine. Medical texting services will also serve as a mechanism to monitor RWHAP patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Respond – To limit the spread of COVID-19 among RWHAP patients, CARES funding will be allocated to respiratory hygiene supplies to patients including face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and facial tissues. Funds will be used for medical/surgical and specialty referrals to link people with HIV with COVID-19 to specialty care providers for management of symptoms and complications associated with COVID-19. The Bluegrass Care Clinic plans to utilize CARES funds to increase access to mental health services for patients experiencing anxiety/depression and trauma due to COVID-19. Funds will also be used to support transportation for patients to COVID-19 testing and subsequent follow-up appointments. The Bluegrass Care Clinic proposes to utilize CARES funding to support the implementation of telehealth services to perform triage, care and follow-up services for patients who would not otherwise have access to telehealth services through the provision of cell phones and/or minutes. University of Kentucky Research Foundation on behalf of the Bluegrass Care Clinic - H7CHA36844 1 Additionally, the Bluegrass Care Clinic will enhance medical assessments via telehealth through the provision of pulse oximeters, thermometers and blood pressure cuffs. Additional CARES funds will be allocated to Emergency Financial Assistance needs in regards to housing/utilities to support increased demands for housing assistance and to support patients diagnosed with COVID-19 that need to self-quarantine away from their families. The Bluegrass Care Clinic proposes to utilize CARES funds to provide food cards and/or boxes to RWHAP patients impacted by COVID-19. University of Kentucky Research Foundation on behalf of the Bluegrass Care Clinic - H7CHA36844 2