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HIV Prevention & Care

Evergreen Health is committed to providing accessible HIV care and HIV prevention services in Buffalo, Jamestown and Western New York. We specialize in HIV treatment for people who are living with HIV, and HIV prevention for people who want to take charge of their health and greatly lower their chances of becoming HIV positive.

HIV prevention

HIV care

What is HIV?

How do I know if I have HIV?

HIV Prevention

Prevent HIV with PrEP

Evergreen is the leading provider in Western New York of PrEP (short for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a prescription drug that, when taken as directed, greatly reduces your risk of becoming HIV positive.

PrEP is for HIV negative individuals who want to take control of their health and reduce their risk of becoming HIV positive. PrEP is recommended for people who:

have sex with multiple and/or anonymous partners
have sex regularly or sometimes without a condom
are not sure of their sexual partners’ HIV status
have recently been diagnosed with an STI/STD
use injection and/or mood-altering drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine or ecstasy

Evergreen Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans, and most plans in New York State cover PrEP. Most people who see an Evergreen provider and use our pharmacy pay $0 out of pocket for PrEP. If you don’t have coverage, we have a dedicated team ready to assist you with obtaining the coverage that best fits your needs.

Call us at 716.847.2441 to learn more about PrEP

Prevent HIV after a recent exposure with PEP

PEP (short for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a prescription drug that can prevent HIV infection after a recent possible exposure to the virus. PEP works best if it’s given within 36 hours after you were exposed to HIV. If it has been longer than 36 hours, we recommend you come in for HIV testing.

Call Evergreen Health’s PEP Hotline at 716.541.0676 to receive PEP through our pharmacy, and our PEP Hotline team will connect you with one of our STI nurses for an appointment.

If you need PEP after business hours, go to your local emergency room or urgent care immediately and ask for PEP.

If you’ve experienced a sexual assault, we encourage you to go to the emergency room for a full exam by a sexual assault nurse examiner including evidence collection, in addition to getting PEP.

Call Evergreen’s PEP Hotline at 716.541.0676

Free safer sex supplies

Using condoms is a highly effective way to prevent HIV, hepatitis C and STIs (also referred to as STDs). PrEP only prevents HIV and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea or syphilis.

We offer free safer sex supplies (condoms and lube) to prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and STIs. Stop by the safer sex bar at any Evergreen Health primary care office to get as much condoms and lube as you need, whenever you need.

HIV Care

HIV is a chronic illness requiring lifelong care, but when treatment is started right away, people living with HIV can expect to live healthy lives. People who are newly diagnosed with HIV are encouraged to start treatment right away, and most will reach undetectable status (meaning they can’t pass the virus to others) in less than 2 months of treatment.

While HIV can’t be cured, most people living with HIV are able to maintain an undetectable viral load and prevent transmission of the virus through medical treatment.

Evergreen is proud that the majority of our patients living with HIV are undetectable. We offer a variety of supportive services for people who are living with HIV to help you reach and maintain an undetectable status.

What is the goal of HIV treatment?

The goal of HIV treatment is to bring patients to an undetectable viral load. This means there is very little HIV found in the body, which reduces the impact HIV has on your system and eliminates the possibility of transmitting the virus to others.

You might hear this explained with the phrase “U=U” or “Undetectable = Untransmittable.”

How does HIV treatment work?

You and your provider will discuss your treatment options and begin the treatment that’s best for you. Most patients take a once daily pill or receive an in-office injectable medication approximately 6 times per year.

How much does HIV treatment cost?

Evergreen Health accepts a wide range of insurance plans and does not turn patients away due to their inability to pay. If you don’t have coverage, we have a dedicated team ready to assist you with obtaining the coverage that best fits your needs. For uninsured or underinsured patients, we offer a sliding fee program to provide care to patients at a cost they can afford.

Supportive services for people who are living with HIV

Our caring providers understand the unique health and wellness needs of people who are living with HIV, and know that life can get in the way of your ability to focus on treatment and reach undetectable status.

We offer supportive services specifically for people who are living with HIV so you can focus on reaching an undetectable viral load, including transportation assistance, housing assistance, health education, nutrition services, and support for people who are aging with HIV.

Learn more about supportive services for people who are living with HIV

What is HIV?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that passes from person to person through contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluid, and/or breast milk from a person living with HIV. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS. HIV attacks and destroys a specific type of immune system cell in the body, known as the CD4 cell or the T-cell, making it harder for your body to fight off other infections.

Finding out you have HIV can be overwhelming, but today, HIV is a treatable chronic health condition. With treatment, people living with HIV can live healthy lives. If you test positive for HIV, Evergreen is here to help you succeed in reaching undetectable status and meeting your health and wellness goals.

How do I know I have HIV?

Everyone has an HIV status, and everyone can be empowered to prevent the spread of HIV. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested.

HIV testing is fast, confidential and accessible at Evergreen. Same-day appointments are usually available, and once tested, you’ll receive your results within 20 minutes. If you have a positive test result, we will begin discussing your treatment plan right away.

Learn more about HIV testing