Program: Harris County, Texas administers Medical Subspecialty Referral Program which is funded primarily under Ryan White Part A. The program is managed locally by the Harris County Public Health Ryan White Grant Administration (RWGA), which administers Part A grant awards for the entire Houston Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA).

Provider Role: AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)Within this Texas network, AHF operates as an approved, contracted clinical care provider rather than an overarching program administrator.

Clinical Care: AHF provides Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services at its local facilities under contract with the Harris County Public Health Ryan White Grant Administration (RWGA).

Referral Generation: When a patient at an AHF clinic requires specialist care (such as cardiology, oncology, or neurology), AHF clinical case managers generate the initial referral packet using the standardized regional guidelines. Once a referral is initiated by a provider like AHF, the care itself is typically centralized through the county's public health system.

Service Rules: The Houston Ryan White Planning Council (rwpc-houston.org) sets the strict local "Service Definitions" that govern these referrals. These rules mandate that county funds are only used as a payer of last resort after confirming the patient has no other insurance covering that specific specialist. The specific funding allocation details for this program structure break down as follows:

The Core Funding:
Ryan White Part A Core Medical Service Designation: Under federal Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) guidelines, medical subspecialty care falls under the core service category of Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services. By law, Part A recipients must allocate at least 75% of their funds to these types of Core Medical Services.

Long-Term Continuum of Care: The Harris County Ryan White Part A Program explicitly handles long-term, ongoing primary care and external specialist referrals for low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals.

Supplemental Local Funding Streams: While Part A serves as the structural foundation, the contracts administered by Harris County to AHF clinical providers are blended with two closely associated federal funding streams to maximize coverage. These include:

Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI): An integrated portion of Part A funding specifically earmarked to improve health outcomes and reduce subspecialty access disparities for racial and ethnic minorities living with HIV

Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE): A targeted federal grant handled by a dedicated section of the RWGA. While Part A covers long-term care, EHE funding is utilized locally for Short-Term HIV Care to provide immediate medical care and rapid specialist routing for newly diagnosed individuals or those re-engaging with the system.

Local Funding Prioritization: The local allocation of these Part A dollars is determined by the Houston Ryan White Planning Council. This volunteer body of community members, experts, and consumers prioritizes which medical services are most needed across the region and directs the county on how to distribute the Part A budget to contracted medical centers.

Proof of HIV Status: Lab report showing a positive HIV viral load, Western Blot, or a signed medical diagnosis form from a licensed Physician.

Proof of Residency: Utility bill, lease agreement, or official mail showing you live within the state or county service area (unhoused individuals can submit a letter from a shelter or caseworker.

Proof of Income: Recent Pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, or a notarized letter of support showing your household income falls below the local limit.

Income limits in Texas: Your income cannot exceed the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Percentage of 400% $63,840.

For Enrolled Patients of AHF Binz or AHF Fannin Healthcare Centers:
If you already use AHF's Bintz or Fannin Healthcare Centers in Houston, you can get specialized medical care by doing the following:

Request Referrals: Through Your Primary Care Provider (PCP): If you need advanced care (such as oncology, neurology, dermatology, or specialized dental care), your PCP must initiate the process. You cannot self-refer to subspecialists under this program.

Let the Clinic Team Handle the Authorizations: Once your PCP documents the medical need, AHF's referral coordinator will electronically submit the request to the central Harris County Ryan White clinical options network, who ensure all regional funding criteria are met.

Schedule Appointments Immediately Upon Approval: Your coordinator will notify you as soon as the county approves the specialist match. You must call and book the specialist appointment quickly, as subspecialty referral paperwork carries strict expiration dates.

Pick Up Specialty Medications via Either Pharmacy: Regardless of whether your PCP is at AHF Healthcare Centers Binz or Fannin, any subspecialty prescription can be prepared, picked up, or set for home delivery across the shared AHF Pharmacy network.

Maintain Ongoing Routine Check-Ups: Return to your primary anchor doctor for all everyday medical management, routine lab draws, and general prescription refills. The subspecialty network will only manage the specific condition you were referred for.

For People Who Are NOT Patients of Either Clinic:
If you are not currently a primary care patient at AHF Binz or Fannin and want to access to the county's specialized referral network, through AHF Bintz or Fannin Healthcare Centers, you must complete the following steps: (Along with AHF, this process is required for all clinics who participate in this program.

Establish Centralized Ryan White Eligibility: To unlock the subspecialty network, you must first clear the regional enrollment criteria through the Harris County Public Health Ryan White Grant Administration.

Submit Your Core Qualification Packet: You will meet with a regional intake worker or case manager to verify four specific criteria using physical or digital documents:

Diagnosis: An official medical report confirming your HIV-positive status. Identity: A valid government-issued photo ID.

Residency: A utility bill, lease, or official mail proving you live in Harris, Fort Bend, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller Counties.

Income: Pay stubs or tax records proving your household income aligns with local program assistance thresholds.

Select Your Primary Medical Home: (Healthcare Center): After your eligibility packet is approved, select the healthcare center you want to use. You can formally enroll at AHF Houston Binz, AHF Houston Fannin, or other partner clinics in Houston.

Complete the Baseline Clinic Evaluation: Attend your first scheduled clinic intake appointment. Your newly assigned PCP will complete a baseline health review and order comprehensive laboratory panels.

Obtain the Subspecialty Connection: Once you are fully established with your PCP, your doctor can officially submit electronic referral packets to connect you to the broader Harris County Medical Subspecialty medical network.