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C-86-19- HIV Medication Donations Background: On January 1, 2019, and at the request of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the Department of Public Health HIV Program began a Rapid Start and Test and Treat Program. Research has shown that if individuals with HIV can be tested and started on medications quickly, these patients are more likely to remain in care and achieve undetectable levels of the virus in as soon as 30 days. Patients who have undetectable viral loads are not able to transmit the HIV virus, thus having a positive impact on public health. A new testing protocol for HIV has been introduced and test results are available to patients within one hour of testing. Communicable Disease Investigators are in contact with patients testing positive for HIV immediately, and patients are linked to an HIV medical provider and/or Central Eligibility within five business days. Patients that have a positive HIV test result are immediately assigned to a Communicable Disease Specialist who will begin linkage to care services that include referrals for both medical care and the Ryan White Program. Since the HIV Program in Public Health does not provide ongoing treatment for HIV patients, there is a gap between the time that the patient is given a positive test result and the time of the medical provider appointment where treatment can begin. In response to the request of our partnering physicians and ADHS, the Public Health Pharmacy can distribute 5- or 7- day starter packs of medication to positive patients who meet predefined criteria, so that treatment can begin same day, in accordance with the protocols of the Rapid Start and Test and Treat initiatives. The cost of 5- or 7-day starter packs of HIV medications is approximately $505 per pack. It is cost prohibitive for the HIV Program to provide medications to patients at that price. In an effort to decrease the viral load of HIV positive patients so they may not pass on the disease, several pharmaceutical companies have offered to donate starter packs to the Department of Public Health HIV Program at no charge for distribution to newly diagnosed HIV patients. This partnership could make a major positive impact in the public health of Maricopa County residents. There are at least 6 other public health departments across the country already taking advantage of this partnership, with positive results reported in each instance. It is estimated that the Public Health Pharmacy will distribute 21 starter packs per month or approximately 252 annually.