PrEP
PrEP is for people who do not have HIV and want additional protection.
Similar to birth control, but for HIV prevention, PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, is available as a daily pill or a long-acting injection. When taken as directed, it is highly effective at preventing HIV. However, PrEP does not prevent against other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy.
All sexually active adolescents and adults should be aware of PrEP. Your provider can help you decide if PrEP is a good fit for you, but in general, it is often considered for individuals who want added protection against HIV. Considerations when deciding whether PrEP might be right for you include whether you and your partners use condoms, whether you know the HIV status of your partners, whether you have recently had any sexually transmitted infections, and whether you or your partner use injection drugs.
PrEP is fully covered by most insurance plans, Medicaid and Medicare.
If you are uninsured, there may be resources to help pay for PrEP. These resources include the Ready, Set, PrEP Program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which provides PrEP at no cost to eligible individuals who do not have insurance coverage. For more information about this program, visit GetYourPrEP.com.
HIV Care and Support Services
At Tulane Total Health, we proudly provide the full continuum of care, as well as an array of support services, to persons living with HIV/AIDS. We recognize that an HIV diagnosis can be overwhelming and scary, but today, treatment options are available for HIV-positive individuals that can allow them to live long and happy lives, as well as prevent the spread of the virus. Our physicians and team of clinical experts are here to support HIV-positive individuals on the road to viral suppression through testing, medication management, and more. Experts agree that an HIV diagnosis requires more than just medical care.
Tulane Total Health provides the following services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS:
- Assistance with Ryan White (ADAP) and/or Medicaid for Uninsured Patients Needing Medication
- Complete primary care, including regular checkups
- Medication management
- Flu shots & vaccinations
- On-site lab work
- On-site pharmacy
- Transportation to care
- Help to find housing
- Help with rent/utilities
- Referrals to additional care
- Referral to Legal Support Services
- Social Services/Case Management
- Workforce development and health literacy program- coming soon!
Text-4-Test
Text the word “test” to 504-290-0145 to request a free home HIV testing kit
Support for Hepatitis C Patients
Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that can cause inflammation and serious liver damage. The Hep C virus is spread through blood and bodily fluids, and many people become infected through sharing needles and injection equipment. An estimated 2.4 million people in the United States are currently living with Hepatitis C. However, many are unaware, as the disease causes few symptoms.
At the Fertel Clinic, services are provided for the Hepatitis C patient, including testing, treatment, as well as assistance with applying for Medicaid and Marketplace Insurances.
STI/STD Screening and Treatment
We offer a free rapid HCV testing program as well as full-panel STI/STD screen treatment for the following:
• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• Trichomoniasis
• HPV
• HIV
• Bacterial Vaginosis
Gender-Affirming Care
Gender-affirming care includes an array of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions “designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity” when it does not match the gender they were assigned at birth. The goal of gender-affirming care is to help transgender individuals align their social, behavioral, and physical traits with their inner gender identity. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), that identity can fall anywhere along a continuum that includes man, woman, a combination of those, neither of those and fluid.
At the Ruth Fertel Clinic, our compassionate, expert providers offer continuous support through your gender-affirmation journey and beyond.
We are proud to offer counseling, hormone therapy and more to individuals of transgender experience and non-binary folks of all ages in the New Orleans area.