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Ryan White and ADAP

In 1984, Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS at the age of 13. Ryan and his family worked tirelessly to combat the discrimination and fear surrounding HIV and AIDS. His struggles to continue attending public school and access needed services made national headlines. Today, Congress continues to fund care and treatment services for people living with HIV through the Ryan White Treatment Modernization Act. First passed in 1990, the purpose of this legislation is to improve the quality and availability of medical care for people with HIV/AIDS and their affected families. Part of this legislation funds the Oregon AIDS Drugs Assistance Program (ADAP) or CAREAssist. CAREAssist helps people living with HIV or AIDS pay for medication and other medical care expenses.

More information about Ryan White and the AIDS Drugs Assistance Program is available on the Health Resources and Services Administration website.


340B Program

What is 340B and why is it important to the CAREAssist Program?

The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  Eligible providers who serve low income people are known as covered entities (CE's).  CE's can purchase outpatient medications at a discount, and then obtain reimbursement through insurance, when applicable.  The purpose of the 340B Drug Pricing Program is to stretch scarce resources as far as possible, providing more comprehensive services to more eligible people.

CAREAssist is a CE, as are many other entities like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's), rural health centers, HIV clinics, homeless clinics, and critical access hospitals.  CAREAssist currently contracts with pharmacies across the state to dispense medications to eligible clients.  CAREAssist contract pharmacies are required to collect the applicable insurance reimbursement that is owed to CAREAssist as a covered entity and remit this payment through the CAREAssist program's pharmacy benefits manager, Ramsell.

CAREAssist currently uses 340B allowable reimbursements to fund approximately 80% of its program budget.  Funds from 340B reimbursements are also used to support other services for people living with HIV, such as case management, housing, behavioral health, early intervention and outreach.  These supportive services help people living with HIV remain virally suppressed, which means better health for them and zero chance of HIV transmission to others.  When you go to a CAREAssist program pharmacy you are helping to fund the program, allowing us to cover more people and provide enhanced coverage.  Thank you for your help in supporting CAREAssist!


Brochures

Informational brochure about the CAREAssist program.


Data

In 2023, CAREAssist contracted with PDES to conduct a survey of CAREAssist clients to assess client satisfaction and quality of life.

Read the 2023 CAREAssist Client Survey Results

CAREAssist Policies & Procedures

CAREAssist Policies and Procedures - English       CAREAssist Policies and Procedures - Spanish


If you have questions related to CAREAssist policy, please call the program at 971-673-0144 or send email to care.assist@odhsoha.oregon.gov


CAREAssist Advisory Group

The RWHAP legislation does not mandate an ADAP-specific advisory committee; however, the Oregon ADAP, CAREAssist, convenes an advisory group meeting quarterly.  The CAREAssist Advisory Group is an open meeting comprised of clinicians, pharmacists, service providers, people with HIV, representatives from other RWHAP Parts, health department staff, contractors, and other state program staff.  The Advisory Group convenes to address needs of the ADAP; which may include program policy, benefits, utilization, quality management and formulary. The Advisory Group is a venue to share informed perspectives, advice and recommendations.  It is not a decision-making body.  For information on attending the CAREAssist Advisory Group, please contact Kris Harvey, CAREAssist Program Coordinator, at 503-428-2805.

Meeting Minutes

CAREAssist Advisory Group Notes March, 2024

CAREAssist Advisory Group Notes June, 2024

CAREAssist Advisory Group Notes September, 2024

CAREAssist Advisory Group Notes December, 2024


CAREAssist Oregon Administrative Rule