Supportive Health Services
Whether newly diagnosed with HIV or a long term survivor, navigating the HIV care system and finding the resources you need to manage your care can be overwhelming. Shannon Supportive Health Services (SSHS) is here to help with a range of services available to qualified, HIV positive individuals
Shannon Supportive Health Services (SSHS) is a Ryan White Part B funded resource center providing a comprehensive range of medical, social, and educational services for uninsured and/or underinsured populations living with HIV. Our goal is to improve health outcomes of individuals living with HIV.
Services are provided regardless of age, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or inability to pay.
Services:
- Comprehensive HIV specialized care overseen by infectious disease physician
- On-site nursing staff
- Medical and nonmedical case Management services
- Long-term patient monitoring, medication adherence, and crisis management by medical and case management staff
- Assistance accessing and enrolling in the Texas HIV Medication Program (THMP) as well as other patient assistance programs to cover costs of HIV medications
- Insurance premium, deductible, and copayment assistance
- HOPWA Short term emergency rental, utility, and mortgage assistance
- HOPWA Long term rental assistance
- Medical Transportation assistance
- Mental Health Counseling
- Oral Health Care
- Access to local Food Bank
- Referrals to additional social and medical resources needed to meet your specific needs through community partnerships
- Condom distribution program
- Education and Outreach prevention program
- Referrals to additional social and medical resources needed to meet your specific needs through community partnerships
SSHS services are focused primarily on individuals residing in the following 13 counties of our Health Service Delivery Area: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, McCulloch, Mason, Menard, Regan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green. However, services are not strictly limited to these areas.
Initial Intake/Eligibility Appointment
The first step in accessing services is to complete an initial intake appointment to verify eligibility. To schedule an appointment, please contact Amber at 325.481.8905.
What do I need to bring to my initial intake appointment?
- Verifiable proof of HIV/AIDS diagnosis
- Proof of Texas residency – Must be a resident of Texas
- Income verification – Must be under 500% of the FPL
- Insurance card if applicable
What to expect:
- Appointment Length: Your intake appointment may take up to 60-90 minutes.
- Questions: You will be asked to answer a few brief questions about your needs and present circumstances.
- Lab Tests: Expect to have blood drawn for lab tests. Drinking plenty of water will keep you hydrated and make the blood draws easier.
What’s Next:
- Case Manager Assignment: After your intake appointment, you will be assigned a member of our case management staff who will schedule an appointment to meet with you within the first 10 days of your enrollment.
- Appointment Length: Expect this appointment to last between 1-2 hours. Your case manager , with your assistance, will assess your current needs and circumstances in more depth. They will also work with you to identify priority needs and develop a comprehensive plan to meet your social and medical needs, connect you to the services you need as well as offer the support, education, and encouragement you may need to help improve your overall health outcomes. Your assigned case manager will be your primary contact for questions about eligibility, services, and referrals.
Medical Appointments:
- Physician Appointments: Your first visit with the physician for HIV care will be scheduled after all initial lab work has been completed and received by the physician; approximately 2 weeks from your intake date. After the initial physician visit, you will be scheduled for follow up labs and appointments every 6 months at a minimum.
- Starting Medication: If you are new to HIV care or have been without HIV medication for an extended amount of time, the physician will see you before she makes the determination of what medications you will prescribed. At that time, if you are insured, your prescriptions can be submitted to your pharmacy of choice and we will determine if there are resources available to cover the cost of any copayments. If you are uninsured, we will begin the process of enrolling you in patient assistance programs and THMP program for your medications. It may take between 24 hours to a week to receive your medications.
- Vaccines: Vaccines may be recommended to keep you healthy and prevent other conditions like pneumonia, influenza, and other vaccines the physician feels would be beneficial for you.
Contact SSHS at 325.481.8905 for additional information or to schedule an appointment.