Ever-improving HIV treatments mean more people are living with the virus under control. But what if they are not getting the treatment? The Louisiana Links program, operating in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, demonstrates that it is possible to make sure that more people are aware of the support they could be getting—and give it to them.
Louisiana Links is funded through the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund (SMAIF), which supports programs to improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment for racial and ethnic minorities. During the funding period, the program has successfully linked and reengaged 90% of 686 enrollees to HIV medical care. Of the clients who were already in care but had not achieved viral suppression, 2 of 3 had the virus under control and were virally suppressed as shown at their last laboratory testing results.
In the Louisiana Links program, Linkage to Care Coordinators are hired to use state health department surveillance data in “innovative ways” to locate, engage, and enroll people living with HIV. They not only find “missing” people, but also provide support. For instance, coordinators attend medical and social service appointments with clients to ensure that they can overcome barriers to care and navigate complex health care systems. They work closely with local health care providers to maximize the resources and supportive services available to each client to increase long-term retention. They also educate clients about HIV and the importance of staying in care and adhering to treatment.
Due the success of the program, the Louisiana Department of Health has expanded services with core HIV prevention and care funding from the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration.