Coordinated Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS

“One thing that I like about working at BAC is the staff that I get to work with every day.  Each day that I come to work, I know that I am going to have a great day because of the beautiful people who work here.  It is truly a blessing to work at BAC, and I am so grateful to be here.” Allison Benjamin, Senior Case Manager 

BAC’s Coordinated Care Program offers an integrated care model that provides a holistic approach for individuals and families living with or affected by HIV/AIDS or individuals who are not HIV positive but may suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes with the potential risk of using the emergency department for receiving care. Our targeted case management (TCM) component is a part of the Coordinated Behavioral Care (CBC) Health Homes. Our services/programs include:

• Case Management/Managed Care services
• Targeted case management (TCM)/Health Homes
• Treatment Adherence

With one phone call or visit, our consumers can be connected with a wide array of programs and services to address their physical, psychological or spiritual needs. All contacts are confidential. We will provide services at home, office, or other locations depending on where consumers feel most comfortable.

Linkage/Navigation (L&N)
Linkage / Navigation Is a process to assist a person (HIV positive or High Risk Negative) obtain timely, essential and appropriate medical, prevention and support services to optimize his or her health and prevent HIV/STD/HCV transmission and acquisition.  L&N is accomplished through active methods of client engagement including appointment scheduling, reminders, transportation/escort to appointments, assistance with health insurance forms, addressing food/housing insecurity, etc.  The goal of L&N is to actively engage the client in a comprehensive assessment process to identify obstacles/ unmet needs and develop an action plan to eliminate/reduce these barriers, support positive change (e.g., achieve/maintain viral load suppression, eliminate HIV/STD risk), and ultimately achieve self-sufficiency with navigating systems of care and support.

Eligibility Requirements: Individuals and families infected/affected by and/or those at high risk for HIV/AIDS. No medical insurance is needed.

For more information about these services or to make an appointment please contact Donna Lawrence: 347-505-5138.

Harm Reduction Mental Services (HRM) – The BAC Harm Reduction Mental Services (HRM) Program is designed for HIV-positive individuals with past or present substance abuse issues. Treatment focuses on Substance Abuse Education, Relapse Prevention, Stress Management, Seeking Safety, and Healthy Conversations. The program seeks to address the impact of trauma on client’s access to care by delivering services in a trauma informed-trauma sensitive manner.

For further information on this program, please contact Loretta Samuels, Supervisor of HRM at 347-505-5166 or the Harm Reduction Counselor 347-505-5171.

For more information about these services or to make an appointment please contact Donna Lawrence: 347-505-5138.

Bridging Access to Care’s Health Homes Program

The Health Homes Program at Bridging Access to Care is designed to assist you with coordinating your health care needs including referral to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

The Health Homes Program is a component of the New Health Care Reform ( Obama Care) and is paid for through Medicaid. The Health Homes Program could benefit you if you are on Medicaid and have any one of the following chronic medical conditions including but not limited to:

Heart Disease AsthmaHypertension HIV/ AIDS
Substance Use Diabetes
Mental Health Problems High Cholesterol

The Health Homes Program at Bridging Access to Care will assist you in navigating the health care system. A Care Manager will be assigned to you and they can assist you with the following:

Minimize or reduce unnecessary E.R. visits and preventable hospitalizations
Identify a medical provider if you don’t have one
Schedule medical and or specialty care appointments
Obtain referrals for specialty care needs including but not limited to mammograms, gynecology pain management, etc.
Coordinate with your providers including medical, mental health and substance use providers.
Your assigned Health Homes Care Manager can also assist you with other social service needs including:

Housing Referral, SSI/SSD applications, food and clothing pantry referrals, legal matters.

The services listed above are at no cost to you and are available for you through your Medicaid Managed Care Plan. The purpose of the Health Homes Program is to encourage and assist you in maintaining a better quality of health care through consistent attendance with your primary care provider.

Maintaining consistent contact with your medical provider will enable you to minimize unnecessary E.R. visits and hospitalizations thereby obtaining a healthier level of care.

Linkage Navigation BAC offers family-centered low-intensive case management services for HIV-infected and affected individuals and families, as well as individuals whose behaviors place them at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Linkage Navigation services include comprehensive treatment adherence program for HIV-negative persons and persons living with HIV and at high risk for non-adherence. Services include education, pharmacy counseling, modified direct observed therapy, individual counseling, and group treatment education.
For more information on Health Homes click here

BAC 340B Pharmacy Program

Bridging Access to Care is a 340B covered entity which allows us to purchase medication at a discount for our Ryan White eligible clients – HIV-positive clients. As a covered entity, BAC works with contracted pharmacies, such as PharmBlue, to provide  discounted pharmacy services and medication to eligible clients. Clients participating in this program can:

– Access a Pharmacist 24/7
– Receive delivery of medications to location of your choice
– Choose a packaging option to help take medication as prescribed
– Customize medication needs
– Communication with pharmacy to monitor medication use and verify delivery.

For information on our 340B Pharmacy Program, please contact Donna Lawrence at 347-505-5138

 

Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP)

BAC is a registered ESAP provider delivering services on the Mobile unit to communities in high-risk locations for intravenous drug use (IDU) and to community pharmacies servicing the IDU population. Consumers can receive clean needles and syringes as well as dispose of used needles and syringes on the mobile unit and at the designated Bergen Street office location. Individuals who are 18 years or older can receive up to 10 clean syringes, a safe kit (FITPACK), and ESAP safety inserts. Along with the clean syringe distribution, consumers receive health screens (STI, mental health, and substance abuse) as a package.

The BAC ESAP program recruits local pharmacies to become ESAP providers, distributes FITPACKS and Safety inserts to pharmacies for distribution, and provides outreach to pharmacies and the community regarding safe sharps disposal including at BAC which is a sharps collection site.

ESAP Distribution Location: 2261 Church Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11226 347-505-5124
All mobile unit locations: Call 347-505-5151 for location and time.

Outreach & Mobile Unit Services

BAC outreach staff conducts outreach activities that actively engage high-risk and HIV positive individuals on the Mobile Unit and in traditional settings.

Activities include health education/risk reduction information, HIV testing & counseling, syringe distribution and disposal (ESAP), agency promotion, consumer recruitment and referrals for additional prevention care. BAC provides community outreach through health fairs and workshops, and health screens on the mobile unit.

The Mobile Unit is stationed in several Brooklyn communities such as Bedford Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Flatbush, Bushwick, East New York, and Williamsburg. The unit provides a package of services that includes:

• STI Screenings
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse screenings
• HIV Testing & Counseling
• Syringe Distribution & Disposal (ESAP)
• Referral & Linkage to primary medical care and other services.

Please download and complete the form to request Mobile HIV Testing at your Health Fair Presence Click Here for the Form

Health Screenings are an important part of health care. It provides a snapshot of the consumers’ current health and give them an opportunity to make healthy choices. Having a health screening can help detect a problem early which is the key to successful treatment.

Bridging Access to Care Health Screenings provides free HIV/STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) screening for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and, Hepatitis B and C. Screenings are confidential and methods used include urine, blood, oral and/or finger stick.

For STI and Hepatitis C Screenings, call: 347-505-5152 or 718-408-6921
For HIV Testing, call: 347-505-5151