Aids Arms Inc

ADVANCING THE HEALTH OF NORTH TEXAS THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND PERSONALIZED INTEGRATED HIV CARE.

AIDS ARMS, INC. (AAI) DBA PRISM HEALTH SERVICES OF NORTH TEXAS IS A COVERED ENTITY AS DEFINED BY CONGRESS ENACTED SECTION 340B OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, CREATED UNDER SECTION 602 OF THE VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 1992, AND AS SUCH, IS AUTHORIZED FOR DISPENSING TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS, CERTAIN OUTPATIENT DRUGS FROM CONTRACTED MANUFACTURERS AT REDUCED PRICES. AAI MANAGES THE 340B PROGRAM THROUGH CONTRACT PHARMACY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH THREE CO-LOCATED PHARMACIES. THE PROGRAM HAS TWO COMPONENTS TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH HIV (PWH) TO ADHERE TO THEIR TREATMENT REGIMEN AND ACHIEVE VIRAL LOAD SUPPRESSION. THE FIRST COMPONENT PROVIDES ACCESS TO DRUGS FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS WITH NO THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE COVERAGE. IN THIS CASE, DRUGS DISPENSED TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS ARE PAID WITH RYAN WHITE FUNDS. THE SECOND COMPONENT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PHARMACY SERVICES TO PWH WHO ARE INSURED. IN THIS CASE, THE DRUGS DISPENSED TO PATIENTS AT THEIR CONTRACTED PHARMACIES OF CHOICE ARE PURCHASED AT 340B DISCOUNT PRICES AND THE PHARMACIES BILL THE INSURANCE CARRIERS PREVAILING RETAIL PRICES. THIS PROCESS GENERATES NET PROCEEDS FOR THE COVERED ENTITY WHICH IS THE SPREAD BETWEEN THE 340B DISCOUNTED PRICE AND THE RETAIL PRICE, WHOSE USES ARE SUBJECT TO THE 340B RULES AND REGULATIONS. IN 2020, AAI DISPENSED OUTPATIENT DRUGS TO 1,718 PWH WHO HAVE NO THIRD-PARTY INSURANCE COVERAGE AND 3,277 PWH WHO ARE INSURED.

AAI PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AND INNOVATIVE HIV MEDICAL CARE TO ALL PEOPLE WITH HIV REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR HAVING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER THE PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME CONCEPT WHICH IS THE STRONGEST EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROVEN TO RETAIN PWH IN HIV CARE AND ACHIEVE OPTIMUM CLINICAL OUTCOMES. THE AGENCY HAS RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE RYAN WHITE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE HIV MEDICAL CARE SINCE 2001. IT NOW OPERATES FOUR MEDICAL CLINICS WHICH INCLUDES UPTOWN PHYSICIAN GROUP. IN 2020, ALL MEDICAL CLINICS PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE TO 5,149 PATIENTS.

AAI HAS IMPLEMENTED A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF PREVENTION PROGRAMS SINCE 2012 WITH FOCUS ON BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION. PRIMARY HIV PREVENTION INCLUDES SERVICES SUCH AS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, TESTING FOR HIV AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, RISK REDUCTION COUNSELING AND CONDOM DISTRIBUTION, AND PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP) SERVICES. SECONDARY HIV PREVENTION FOCUSES ON PROVIDING EFFECTIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND SUPPORT FOR PWH TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE VIRAL SUPPRESSION WHICH HELPS PREVENT HIV TRANSMISSION. AAI IS ALSO A COVERED ENTITY UNDER THE FEDERAL 340B DISCOUNT PROGRAM FOR DRUGS DISPENSED TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS ON PREP. IN 2020, AAI PROVIDED PREP SERVICES AND DISPENSED DRUGS APPROVED FOR PREP REGIMEN TO 2,975 PATIENTS.

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