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Examples of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Supplemental Funding Uses and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Service Categories

Funding has been appropriated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116- 136) (CARES Act) to help Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) recipients prepare for, prevent, and respond to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This funding has been appropriated to support recipients as they respond to COVID-19 related health service needs for RWHAP clients. Additional flexibilities for the use of these funds are the result of the declared public health emergency, allowing the invocation of section 2683 of the Public Health Service Act.

This document is a crosswalk of examples of COVID-19 related activities by RWHAP service category. This document is not intended as an exhaustive list of allowable activities or uses of CARES Act supplemental funding.

In addition to the activities listed in the table below, there are a number of COVID-19 related activities that could be provided under any service category. Supplies and equipment, for example, needed to keep RWHAP clients, their immediate household members, and staff safe during the furtherance of a direct service may be funded under the appropriate direct service category. These activities are referred to as “General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities,” which include the following:

  • Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to RWHAP service providers and RWHAP clients and their immediate household members as needed to provide a RWHAP service.
  • Testing for COVID-19 and/or referral to certified testing sites.
  • Purchase supplies for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette as needed to provide an in-person RWHAP service.
  • Hire additional staff or enter into agreements with providers to address increased demand for a RWHAP service.
  • Build, enhance, and expand the use of telehealth technology to provide a RWHAP service.
  • Disseminate educational materials on precautions to prevent, contain, or mitigate COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses for people with HIV.
  • Provide safety barriers to support social distancing between RWHAP providers and RWHAP clients in the delivery of a RWHAP service.
  • Designate separate space for RWHAP services to RWHAP clients under investigation and those testing positive, including temporary and non-fixed barriers.
  • Purchase cleaning supplies to disinfect high contact areas and/or contract with cleaning services as needed.
  • Provide training on the proper usage of PPE and infection control for those providing services to RWHAP clients.
  • Review, update, and/or implement emergency operations plans, including plans to address surge capacity and potential provider and other staff absenteeism.

Please see Policy Clarification Notice #15-01 Treatment of Costs under the 10% Administrative Cap for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Parts A, B, C and D (PDF - 124 KB) for more information on how to assign costs across all budget and service categories.

Examples of COVID-19 Activities by RWHAP Service Category

Core Medical Services

RWHAP Service Category Examples of COVID-19 Activities
AIDS Drug Assistance Program Treatments
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide medication and/or health insurance costs for people out of work due to shelter-in-place orders.
  • Extend prescription refills (e.g., from a 30-day refill to a 90-day refill) to limit patient and staff exposure, if permissible under state law.
  • Provide the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
  • Provide medications for outpatient treatment of COVID-19.
  • Provide increased technical assistance to address changes in RWHAP client eligibility and recertification processes and formulary/medication management in response to the pandemic.
  • Support social distancing by providing home-delivered medications to RWHAP clients.
  • ADAP Access, Adherence, and Monitoring Services (ADAP Flex)
    • Develop mobile notification services to minimize time waiting in pharmacy to pick up medications.
    • Purchase face masks for clients so they can pick up medications.
AIDS Pharmaceutical Assistance
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide medication and/or health insurance costs for people out of work due to shelter-in-place orders.
  • Extend prescription refills (e.g., from a 30-day refill to a 90-day refill) to limit patient and staff exposure, if permissible under state law.
  • Provide the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
  • Provide medications for outpatient treatment of COVID-19.
  • Provide increased technical assistance to address changes in RWHAP client eligibility and recertification processes and formulary/medication management in response to the pandemic.
  • Support social distancing by providing home-delivered medications to RWHAP clients.
Early Intervention Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Health Insurance Premium and Cost Sharing Assistance for Low-Income Individuals
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Pay premiums and cost-sharing to maintain or obtain coverage during the pandemic.
Home and Community-Based Health Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide training on the proper usage of PPE and infection control for those household and community members providing services to RWHAP clients.
  • Provide rehabilitation and home health services for RWHAP clients who receive COVID-19 treatment (post-acute care; suffered from muscle wasting while inpatient).
  • Purchase and provide durable medical equipment (DME) used for COVID-19 prevention (e.g., mask sterilization cleaners and air cleaners).
  • Purchase DME used for treating individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who are awaiting transfer to inpatient hospital (e.g., flowmeters, oxygen equipment, supplies, and accessories, nebulizers, infusion pumps, suction pumps).
Home Health Care
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Administer COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
  • Administer medications for treatment of COVID-19.
  • Purchase additional medical supplies, such as thermometers and pulse oximeters, for use in the home care setting.
  • Provide expert consultation on home care for people with HIV not requiring hospitalization, preventing COVID-19 spread in homes and communities for people with HIV.
Hospice Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Costs associated with at-home or other residential setting hospice care for a RWHAP client with COVID-19. These services may include: nursing care, mental health counseling, palliative therapeutics, durable medical equipment (such as oxygen and associated supplies), and room and board.
Medical Case Management
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide increased technical assistance to address changes in RWHAP client eligibility and recertification processes in response to the pandemic.
  • Enhance partnerships with organizations delivering services to RWHAP clients without housing and/or prepare for expansion of or increased need for reliance on RWHAP-supported housing and related services.
  • Promote behavioral health strategies to address well-being of healthcare workers caring for people with HIV in response to COVID-19.
  • Provide or otherwise support recuperative care service.
Medical Nutrition Therapy
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Support social distancing, provide home-delivered meals/meal services/nutrition supplements.
Mental Health Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Oral Health Care
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Medical history/physical exam for RWHAP clients with suspected exposure to COVID-19.
  • Counseling on health management during COVID-19.
  • Diagnostic testing of RWHAP clients and immediate household members suspected COVID-19 (x-rays and other lab tests).
  • Purchase and administer medical countermeasures that may be identified to lessen severity of COVID-19 illness.
Substance Abuse Outpatient Care
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.

Support Services

RWHAP Service Category Examples of COVID-19 Activities
Child Care Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Emergency Financial Assistance
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Purchase and administer medical countermeasures that may be identified to lessen severity of COVID-19 illness.
  • Support social distancing by providing home delivered medications to RWHAP clients.
  • Providing one-time housing or utility assistance for clients facing eviction due to loss of wages related to COVID-19.
  • Pay for client services that are needed as a result of the economic impact of shelter-in-place orders and directly impact the client’s ability to access and retain essential HIV care and treatment services.
Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Support social distancing by providing home-delivered meals, meal services, and/or food.
  • Purchase household cleaning supplies for use by clients to disinfect personal living space.
Health Education/Risk Reduction
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Purchase equipment/supplies to support virtual health education sessions.
Housing
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide short-term or emergency housing assistance for clients who have lost wages due to shelter in place orders.
Linguistic Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Medical Transportation
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Purchase a vehicle to transport RWHAP clients to assessment and testing locations, and/or to transport RWHAP recipient personnel to deliver COVID-19 assessment and treatment.
Non-Medical Case Management Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide or otherwise support recuperative care service.
Other Professional Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Support staff costs needed to provide legal services for clients facing eviction or utility shut off due to loss of wages as a result of shelter-in-place orders.
Outreach Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Psychosocial Support Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide training and technical assistance for enhanced medical respite/recuperative care services.
Referral for Health Care and Support Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
Rehabilitation Services
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Partner with facilities/organizations delivering services to unsheltered RWHAP clients.
Respite Care
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
  • Provide respite care for RWHAP clients.
  • Provide training on infection control and proper use of PPE when caring for RWHAP clients.
  • Recreational and social services activities provided in the home setting by a licensed/certified provider.
Substance Abuse Services (residential)
  • General COVID-19 RWHAP Activities.
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