HIV Resources

Supporting Your Patients Through HIV Care and Prevention

Dealing with a health issue requires the right care and tools. Whether your patients are currently living with HIV, could be at risk for getting the virus, or you are a care provider for someone impacted by HIV, Highmark Wholecare is here to help. This resource center provides access to local services, treatment options, and other vital information to support your practice and your patients.

Understanding HIV Risk and Testing Guidelines

Did you know that everyone aged 13 to 64 years should get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care?

• Generally, people who have more risk factors for HIV should get tested each year.
• Sexually active MSM may benefit from getting tested more often, such as every three to six months.
• Pregnant persons, including those who present in labor or at delivery whose HIV status is unknown should be tested. HIV treatment during pregnancy is crucial for both the health of the mother and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The goal is to reduce the viral load to undetectable levels.

We see several gaps in the prevention and care of HIV. These include:

1. Many people at risk of HIV are never asked about their sexual history and risk factors. This is especially an issue for young people of color – the highest risk group. All providers should routinely assess members risk of HIV by taking a thorough sexual history and ask about substance use. Start with the simple question, “Are you sexually active and if so is it with Men, Women or both?”
2. Many primary care providers are not aware of the options for PrEP and our number of members on it are surprisingly low. This reference from the CDC is an excellent summary of the options Clinical Guidance for PrEP. Additionally, there are online and in person courses offered by the Mid Atlantic AIDS Education and Treatment Center MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center.
3. If someone does have a positive test, getting them rapidly (even the day of diagnosis) into care can prevent them being lost to follow up and prevent further spread of the infection. Do this in your office or by a phone call and handoff to an HIV care center. Many have telehealth options for those in rural areas.
4. Adherence is crucial to prevent developing resistant strains of HIV, assuring that the patient has an Undetectable viral load, so they do not progress to AIDS, and they are Untransmittable (cannot transmit the infection). In other words, U=U. Sadly, 40% of our Medicaid members have a medication possession ratio (MPR) less than 80% which puts them at risk for these adverse outcomes. Be sure to regularly inquire about adherence, assess the barriers and if need be, and consider a switch to a long-acting form of treatment.

HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, or age. However, certain groups are identified as having a higher risk for HIV. These include:

• Gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities
• African Americans
• Latinos
• Individuals who inject drugs
• Transgender individuals
• Persons with multiple sex partners

For comprehensive details on testing guidelines and general HIV information, please Click Here.

Where to Access HIV Testing for Your Patients

• Free At-Home HIV Test Kits for Pennsylvania Residents: Residents of Pennsylvania can order a free, quick, and easy-to-use at-home HIV test kit by visiting: https://getmyhivtest.com/
• Allegheny County Resources: AIDS Free Pittsburgh maintains an ongoing list of local HIV testing sites, PrEP and PEP (for HIV prevention), and HIV treatment resources in Allegheny County. For more information, please visit: https://www.aidsfreepittsburgh.org
• Statewide Testing Locations (Outside Allegheny County): If your patients do not live in Allegheny County, you can find a nearby HIV testing location by clicking this link: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Documents/Programs/STD%20PROVIDERS.pdf

HIV Support and Care Resources

• Allegheny County Support Services: For information regarding HIV case management, primary care providers specializing in HIV, and support groups for people living with HIV in Allegheny County, please  visit: https://www.aidsfreepittsburgh.org/living-with-hiv
• Find Local Support Groups: To help your patients find HIV support groups in their area, you can direct them to search by zip code here.

Pregnancy and HIV Resources

• HIVE Online: https://hiveonline.org/
• HIV.gov - Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/hiv-source/hiv-prevention/mother-child-transmission
• HIV.gov – Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy and interventions to reduce perinatal HIV transmission: What's New: Perinatal HIV Clinical Guidelines
• CDC.gov – HIV and Breastfeeding: HIV and Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding special circumstances

Additional HIV Resources

Here are some more resources that you may find helpful for your practice and patients:

• Pennsylvania Department of Health - HIV Program Links: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/HIV/Pages/Links.aspx
• HIV.gov: https://www.hiv.gov/
• CDC - HIV/AIDS: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html
• StopHIV.com: http://www.stophiv.com/

Highmark Wholecare Member Portal

Highmark Wholecare members can access a wealth of HIV articles and videos through the member portal. Direct your patients to the Highmark Wholecare website, where they can click the "Member Portal" link at the top of the page or click here. If they have never logged in before, they will need to create an account using their member ID.

Prevention and Treatment Modalities

• HIV Care Options in Allegheny County: Download the Guide to clinics, providers, and the healthcare coverage they accept.
• CDC Clinical Guidance for PrEP: Clinical Guidance for PrEP
• HIV.gov HIV Care Continuum: HIV Care Continuum