Healthcare Access Programs

Healthcare Access is a component of the CDPH HIV/STI Bureau’s Community Health Services Division, a collection of services that work together to reduce HIV infections and increase quality of life for those living with and vulnerable to HIV in the Chicago Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA). This portfolio of services falls in line with the two primary goals outlined in the Illinois Getting to Zero plan:

  • Increase by 20 percentage points the number of people living with HIV who are virally suppressed.
  • Increase by 20 percentage points the number of people vulnerable to HIV infection who use HIV PrEP.

Programs and Services

Population Centered Health Homes

  • Early Intervention Services
  • Mental Health Services
  • Non-medical Case Management
  • Oral Health Services
  • Outreach Services
  • Outpatient Ambulatory Health Services
  • Psychosocial Services
  • Substance Use- Outpatient Care
  • Substance Use- Residential Care

Additional Services:

  • HIV Screening- Targeted and Routine
  • PrEP Prescription and Linkage
  • STI screening, treatment, and EPT

Essential Support Services

  • Mental Health
  • Non-medical Case Management
  • Psychosocial
  • Substance Use- Outpatient
  • Substance Use- Residential

Additional Services:

  • HIV Screening- Targeted and Routine
  • PrEP Prescription and Linkage

HIV Primary Care

  • Outpatient Ambulatory

Additional Services:

  • HIV Screening- Targeted and Routine
  • PrEP Prescription and Linkage

HIV Screening In Healthcare Settings

  • HIV Screening and Linkage

Medical Case Management

  • Medical Case Management

Other Professional Services: Legal

  • Legal services and income tax preparation

Foodbank and Home-Delivered Meals

  • Foodbank and home-delivered meals

Emergency Financial Assistance, Housing, and Medical Transportation

  • Emergency Financial Assistance
  • Ryan White Part A Transitional Housing
  • Medical Transportation

Funding for Healthcare Access programs comes from the following sources:

  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Ryan White Part A
  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC): HIV Prevention & STD Prevention
  • Illinois Department of Public Health: HIV Prevention
  • City of Chicago

All Healthcare Access programs operate as payer of last resort, providing care to clients that are not able to access clinical or essential supportive services because they are under-insured or uninsured.

Our geographic service area, the Chicago EMA, consists of nine counties. These counties include Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, McHenry, Lake, Kane, and Kendall.

In addition, CDPH works collaboratively with the Chicago Area HIV Integrated Services Council (CAHISC) to determine needs and set funding priorities. The Planning Council consists of 45+ members who are community members, provider representatives, and consumers. Each year the Planning Council conducts a needs assessment to identify unmet needs, gaps in services, and barriers to care. The recommendations from the needs assessment process are used to inform the priority setting process which is also conducted on an annual basis.

Who is eligible to receive healthcare access funded services?

You are eligible to receive assistance under Healthcare Access programs if:

  • You have a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS
  • You lived in the Chicago EMA (Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Will, Grundy, McHenry, Lake, Kane, Kendall counties)
  • You are uninsured and/or underinsured
  • Your income is below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level

Service delivery guidance documents

HIV care-related service categories are funded through the HRSA Ryan White Part A and MAI. Agencies funded to deliver these services must comply with the Chicago EMA’s local Ryan White Part A Standards of Care.