Welcome to Positive Healthcare - Florida









			Frequently Asked Questions for Patients What can Positive Healthcare do for me? I understand what medications I am supposed to take but I don't know why? I know that I am HIV positive but what is the difference between HIV and AIDS? My doctor says that my lab work "looks good", but I don't know what that means. The nurse at the office said my T-cell count should be high and my viral load should be low. What does that mean? If my viral load is "undetectable" does that mean I am cured? I already have a Case Manager. Why do I need you? Who is eligible for the Disease Management Program? What are the contact numbers for Positive Healthcare? What is the Project AIDS Care (PAC) Waiver? What can Positive Healthcare do for me? Provide you with a Registered Nurse who specializes in HIV, who will help you to manage your disease and to live a longer, healthier life. (back to top) I understand what medications I am supposed to take but I don't know why? Your RN will sit down with you and review every drug that you are taking. They will explain what each drug is for and how it works. (back to top) I know that I am HIV positive but what is the difference between HIV and AIDS? HIV is a virus that is in your blood that destroys some of your white blood cells, also called T-cells. When your T-cells drop below a certain level, generally 200, you are diagnosed with AIDS. Sometimes you can have a co-infection like PCP Pneumonia that also gives you an AIDS diagnosis. (back to top) My doctor says that my lab work "looks good", but I don't know what that means. Your nurse will go to you doctor's office, look at your chart, read your lab work, and get back with you to explain what your lab values mean. (back to top) The nurse at the office said my T-cell count should be high and my viral load should be low. What does that mean? Your T-cells are the good cells that fight infection in your body. Viruses are bad cells. So, you don't want to have a lot of virus floating around in your blood, but you want a lot of good cells to fight off any virus that get into your body. The higher your T-cell count, the more good cells you have. The lower the viral load is, the fewer viruses you have in your blood. (back to top) If my viral load is "undetectable" does that mean I am cured? No. Having an "undetectable" viral load means that there is very little virus floating around in your blood. This usually means that you are taking your medicines like you should and that the virus isn't reproducing, but you are still HIV+ and can infect someone else if you don't use safe sex practices. (back to top) I already have a Case Manager. Why do I need you? Your ASO Case Manager is a Social Worker who helps you with community resources like housing, food, money for electricity, etc. Positive Healthcare hires Registered Nurses who only see HIV patients. They know what HIV Standards of Practice are. Your RN will work with you, your ASO Case Manager, and with your physician, to see that you are receiving the best medical care available. (back to top) Who is eligible for the Disease Management Program? All Florida residents with Medicaid MediPass coverage or dually eligible with Project AIDS Care Waiver along with an HIV/AIDS diagnosis are eligible for the Disease Management Program. (back to top) What are the contact numbers for Positive Healthcare? Positive Healthcare covers all 67 counties in Florida with statewide offices in Fort Lauderdale and regional offices in Miami, Delray Beach, Jacksonville and Tampa. Please use this link to download a PDF of the regional map and all contact information. There is also a toll-free 24-hour Positive Healthcare number: (800) 832-0778. (back to top) What is the Project AIDS Care (PAC) Waiver? The purpose of the PAC Waiver Program is to promote, maintain, and optimize the health of persons living with AIDS in order to delay or prevent institutionalization. PAC Waiver provides home and/or community based services to Medicaid eligible persons with a diagnosis of AIDS that choose to live at home and in the community. (back to top)