Early Intervention Services
Service Standard
Early Intervention Services Standards Print version
Texas Department of State Health Services, HIV Care Services Group – HIV/STD Program
Subcategories | Service Units |
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Early Intervention Services | Per visit |
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Description
Early Intervention Services (EIS) include the identification of individuals living with HIV at points of entry and provision of access to services. EIS must include the following four components:
- Targeted HIV testing to help individuals who are unaware learn of their HIV status and receive a referral to HIV care and treatment services if found to be living with HIV.
- Recipients must coordinate these testing services with other HIV prevention and testing programs to avoid duplication of efforts.
- HIV testing paid for by EIS cannot supplant testing efforts paid for by other sources.
- Referral services to improve HIV care and treatment services at key points of entry.
- Access and linkage to HIV care and treatment services such as HIV Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services, Medical Case Management, and Substance Abuse Care.
- Outreach Services and Health Education/Risk Reduction related to HIV diagnosis.
Program Guidance
The elements of EIS often overlap with other service category descriptions; however, EIS is the combination of such services rather than a stand-alone service.
EIS agencies coordinate services at specific points of entry and with providers of prevention services.
Counseling, testing, and referral activities work to bring people living with HIV (PLWH) into Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services (OAHS). The goal of EIS is to decrease the number of underserved PLWH by increasing access to care.
EIS also provides the added benefit of educating and motivating clients on the importance and benefits of getting into care. Agencies should refer individuals found not to be living with HIV to appropriate prevention services.
Limitations
Agencies may use Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part B funds for HIV testing only where existing federal, state, and local funds are inadequate and RWHAP funds will supplement, not supplant, existing testing funds.
EIS services are limited to:
- Counseling and HIV testing
- Referral to appropriate services based on HIV status
- Linkage to care
- Education and health literacy training for clients to help them navigate the HIV care system
EIS services require coordination with providers of prevention services and should be provided at specific points of entry.
Universal Standards
Service providers for Early Intervention Services must follow HRSA and DSHS Universal Standards 1-63 and 80-90.
Service Standards and Measures
The following standards and measures are guides to improving healthcare outcomes for people living with HIV throughout the State of Texas within the Ryan White Part B and State Services Program.
Standard | Measure |
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HIV Testing: Agencies providing HIV testing must ensure the following:
Agencies may use RWHAP Part B and State Services funds to purchase Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved in-home testing kits. When a client has a positive HIV test at an outside provider, agencies may provide other elements of EIS to the client and do not need to conduct repeat testing. |
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Results Counseling: Agencies must offer results counseling to clients testing through their agency (whether in person or with a home test kit), regardless of the result of the HIV test performed. Results counseling should include a discussion of safe health practices and general health education for clients. Results counseling for individuals with positive HIV tests must include:
Results counseling for individuals with negative HIV tests include:
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Linkage to Care: Staff providing EIS services must assist clients who test positive for HIV through preliminary testing in scheduling an appointment with a medical provider of the client’s choosing to link them to Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services. Ryan White measures successful linkage to Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services as attendance at the actual medical appointment with a prescribing provider.
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EIS Care Planning: Staff must develop care plans for clients living with HIV during the time they are receiving services through EIS programs. Care plans must include:
Staff must update the care plan with outcomes and revise it in response to changes in the client’s life circumstances or goals. |
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Progress Notes: Agencies must maintain progress notes in each client’s primary record. Progress notes must include documentation of the assistance the EIS staff provided to the client to achieve successful linkage to OAHS services. |
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Referrals and Follow-up: EIS staff must assist clients with referrals to necessary services to achieve successful linkage to care, including the following:
Staff must document referrals and follow-up in the client’s primary record. Follow-up documentation must include the result of the referral and additional assistance the EIS staff offered to the client. |
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Transition/Case Closure: Agencies must close the cases of clients who staff successfully linked to active MCM services or OAHS or are no longer engaged in EIS services. Closed cases for clients living with HIV must have a summary that includes the reason for case closure. The EIS supervisor must review and sign closed cases. Agencies may consider a client “out of care” if three attempts to contact the client (via phone, e-mail, or written correspondence) over at least three days are unsuccessful and the client has had 30 days from the initial unsuccessful contact to respond. Staff should utilize multiple contact methods (phone, text, e-mail, certified letter), as the client’s authorization permits, when trying to re-engage a client. EIS staff should work with their local Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) to assist clients who have not been informed of their HIV status or successfully linked to care. Common reasons for case closure include:
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References
Division of Metropolitan HIV/AIDS Programs, HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) National Monitoring Standards for RWHAP Part A Recipients. Health Resources and Services Administration, March 2025.
Division of State HIV/AIDS Programs, HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) National Monitoring Standards for RWHAP Part B Recipients. Health Resources and Services Administration, March 2025.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Policy Notice 16-02: Eligible Individuals & Allowable Uses of Funds. Health Resources & Services Administration, October 22, 2018.
Public Health Service Act Title XXVI—HIV Health Care Services Program.