The Ryan White Program was put into place at the Metro Public Health Department in 2007 to offer services for people living with HIV. The covered federal grant area determined covers the following counties: Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson.
Ryan Part A funds are used to develop or enhance access to a comprehensive system of high quality, community-based care for low-income people living with HIV. Ryan Part A funds may be used for HIV primary medical care and other medical-related services and for support services (like medical transportation) that are needed by people living with HIV in order to stay in care and linked to positive medical outcomes. To ensure quality of care and services, a Clinical Quality Management program has been established.
Who is eligible to enroll in the Ryan White Program?
The Ryan White Part A service continuum offers a variety of core medical services and essential support services for people who meet the specific eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for Ryan White Part A services, the following requirements must be met:
- Documentation of HIV infection. Proof is required by several accepted forms of documentation.
Proof of HIV Diagnosis Acceptable Forms of Documentation - Proof that the individual resides in one of the 13 counties of the Middle Tennessee. These counties are – Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson. Proof is required by several accepted forms of documentation.
Proof of Residence Acceptable Forms of Documentation - Must have an income at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Proof is required by several accepted forms of documentation.
Proof of Income Acceptable Forms of Documentation
History of Ryan White Program
Ryan White was a young man from Indiana who acquired HIV through a contaminated blood treatment he received as part of his therapy to address his hemophilia. Ryan was diagnosed with HIV at the age of 13 in December 1984 when little was known about the disease and there were few medical therapies. While in middle school the school district barred him from attending classes. Ryan and his mother Jeanne White (Ginder) fought to educate the community about HIV and to gain the right to return to school. After moving to Cicero Indiana Ryan was able to go to school. Ryan’s efforts to educating the public did not stop there and he went on to meet with several Members of Congress about the need for comprehensive services to care for persons living with HIV. In 1990, four months after Ryan’s death at the age of 18, Congress enacted the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. The legislation that created the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program—to improve the quality and availability of HIV care and treatment for low-income people with HIV.
