University Health cares about each of our patients, regardless of income level. We offer the CareLink financial assistance program to Bexar County families who do not have health insurance and do not qualify for other coverage.

While CareLink is not health insurance, it helps make health care services at University Health more affordable.

COSPLAY Suicide Prevention

CoSPLAY (Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Blueprint for Adults and Youth) focuses on providing suicide prevention services for Bexar County residents between the ages of 10-24 who may also identify as LGBTQ+.

Please contact Jose Gonzalez at Jose.Gonzalez3@uhtx.com or call 210-644-1556 to learn more about our suicide care pathway.

STOP (SOUTH TEXAS OVERDOSE PREVENTION)

STOP expands and enhances overdose prevention and harm reduction services for minority individuals who have, or at risk of developing, substance use disorders.

Services we provide at no cost:

• Supply harm reduction supplies (naloxone, wound care kits, sharps containers and safe sex kits)
• Provide substance use education and awareness
• Refer individuals to treatment
• Screening and navigation
• Peer recovery support

Who may participate:

• Must be 18 years or older
• Live in one of the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Calhoun, Comal, Dewitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Maverick, Medina, Real, Victoria, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson or Zavala
• Fulfill at least one of the following:
  • Currently use or have a history of substance use (alcohol or drugs) in the past 12 months
  • Have a history of an overdose in the past three years
  • Friend, family or ally of someone using opioids (prescribed or non-prescribed)

Order free harm reduction supplies. For more information, please download our brochure or contact Adrienne.Henze@uhtx.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok @stxoverdoseprevention.

OTRS (OVERDOSE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES)

OTRS aims to reduce overall opioid use disorder (OUD) in South Texas.

Services we provide at no cost:

• Medication for opioid use disorders
• Substance use education and awareness
• Outpatient counseling
• Peer recovery support
• Case management
• HIV testing

Who may participate:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Live in one of the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Calhoun, Comal, Dewitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Maverick, Medina, Real, Victoria, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson or Zavala
• Be at risk or living with an opioid use disorder

To enroll in OTRS, please fill out the self-referral or referral by provider forms. For more information, you can download our brochure or contact Jose.Gonzalez3@uhtx.com. Don’t forget to follow @otrsprogram on Instagram and Facebook.

NEW START

New Start provides aid and support to men and women in substance use recovery.

Services we provide at no cost:

• 90 days of counseling treatment
• HIV/VH (B+C) testing and education
• Case management
• Recovery support services
• Health education

Who may participate:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Resident in Bexar County
• Have a history of drug or alcohol use in the last 12 months

To enroll in New Start, please fill out the referral form. For more information, download the flyer or contact Sergio.Vega@uhtx.com. Follow @newstartprogram on Instagram and Facebook.

INTEGRATED FAMILY PLANNING OPIOID RESPONSE PROJECT (IFPOR)

The Opioid Program is a partnership of providers and clinics within University Health’s Family Planning Program which provides Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and counseling to help patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

With guidelines established by the Family Planning Program, our staff will help guide you through eligibility, screening and referral for treatment.

SMASH (SUBSTANCE MISUSE AWARENESS & SEXUAL HEALTH)

SMASH aims to prevent substance misuse, transmission of HIV and hepatitis among men aged 18 and above living in Bexar County who are at risk for substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.

What SMASH offers:

• A judgment-free, safe environment to discuss your health needs and questions
• Free prevention services for substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, specifically:
  
  • Condom distribution
  • HIV/hepatitis testing
  • Peer support
  • PrEP (HIV prevention pill)
  • Screening for substance abuse risk
  • Referrals to treatment and other support services (e.g. housing, employment, etc.)

For more information, download our brochure or visit smashsa.com.

ZERO SUICIDE PROGRAM

More than 70% of people who died by suicide saw their primary care provider at least once within the year prior to their death.

University Health Zero Suicide Program aims to reduce suicide attempts and deaths among adults by using a comprehensive, multi-setting suicide prevention and intervention approach. This approach uses the seven elements of the Zero Suicide Model.

Zero Suicide Program aims to:

• Improve suicide screening protocols and treatment referrals at primary care visits
• Improve care and outcomes for patients at-risk for suicide
• Create a leadership-driven and safety-oriented culture

CRISIS SERVICES: 24/7
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (English & Spanish)

Crisis TEXT Line: Text HOME to 741741

TEXAS WEARS CONDOMS (TWC) | HIV PREVENTION

The purpose of TWC is to reduce the spread of HIV/STDs in Texas. TWC does this by:

• Expanding free condom access
• Improving condom knowledge
• Destigmatizing condoms/condom use by shipping condoms to any adult in Texas at no cost

In 2021, our services were expanded to offer FREE at-home HIV test kits to eligible Texas residents. Visit texaswearscondoms.com to order your free prevention resources.

Family Focused AIDS Clinical Treatment Services (FFACTS)

HIV/AIDS care at University Health’s FFACTS Clinic is funded in part by the Ryan White Treatment and Modernization Act. We strive to improve the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in San Antonio and throughout South Texas.

Viral Hepatitis Programs

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primary risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer in adults. University Health’s viral hepatitis programs seek to prevent liver cancer in adults by providing:

• Screening for HCV
• One-on-one patient navigation support
• Access to treatment services
• Hepatitis B vaccination

For more information, please visit the following links:

• Wear the Gown: Hepatitis C Risks and Symptoms
• Real Men Wear Gowns: Hepatitis C
• Wear the Gown: Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment
• Wear the Gown: HepVISTA Program
• Great Day SA: Treatments and testing resources for hepatitis
• University Health Institute for Public Health: Hepatitis

RYAN WHITE PART A, PART B, AND PART D/HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA)

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs provide care for people living in the San Antonio area with HIV/AIDS. These programs are for people who are low-income, uninsured and underserved.

Parts A and B are geared toward the same population group, while Part D targets women, infants, children and affected family members.

The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program provides housing assistance and supportive services for low-income people with HIV/AIDS and their families.

For more information, please visit fam210.com or follow @famtwo10 on Facebook or Instagram.

ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC: A PLAN FOR AMERICA – RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART A AND B (RWHAP)

Ending the Epidemic, or Operation BRAVE (Bexar County Response and Victory to Ending the Epidemic), seeks to improve access to HIV treatment in Bexar County.

Activities include:

• Increasing organizational capacity
• Disseminating information
• Engaging the public and local community
• Implementing emerging practices
• Encouraging retention in care, re-engagement in care and adherence counseling
• Utilizing the provision of RWHAP core medical and support services
• Developing data infrastructure and systems linkages

For more information, visit operationbravesa.com or follow @operationbrave on Instagram, @braveoperation on Facebook or on Twitter @operation_brave.

POSITIVE LINKS FOR YOUTH AND EMERGING ADULTS (PL4Y)

Young and emerging adults (18-29 years old) living with HIV are the least likely to engage in HIV care or achieve virus suppression. The primary purpose of PL4Y is to adapt an existing mobile health intervention to the specific needs and developmental stages of youth and emerging adults with HIV in South Texas.

The program will also advance the knowledge on the utility, acceptability and processes of development for mental health interventions for young and emerging adults living with HIV.

NEW START

New Start provides aid and support to men and women in substance use recovery.

Services we provide at no cost:

• 90 days of counseling treatment
• HIV/VH (B+C) testing and education
• Case management
• Recovery support services
• Health education

Who may participate:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Resident in Bexar County
• Have a history of drug or alcohol use in the last 12 months

To enroll in New Start, please fill out the referral form. For more information, download the flyer or contact Sergio.Vega@uhtx.com. Follow @newstartprogram on Instagram and Facebook.

RURAL MATERNITY AND OBSTETRICS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES (RMOMS) PROGRAM

RMOMS improves maternal and neonatal outcomes through the delivery and access of preconception, pregnancy, labor and delivery postpartum services.

RMOMS’ focus areas include:

• Rural hospital obstetric service aggregation
• Network approach to coordinating a continuum of care
• Leveraging telehealth and specialty care
• Financial sustainability

FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM

The Family Planning Program provides family planning services to women and men who meet certain income and residency requirements.

These services help people:

• Determine the number and spacing of their children
• Reduce unintended pregnancies
• Improve future pregnancy and birth outcomes
• Improve general health

For more information, download our brochure.

HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN (HTW) PROGRAM

The Healthy Texas Women program provides family planning and reproductive health services to eligible women in Texas. These services help women plan their families, whether it is to achieve, postpone or prevent pregnancy. These services have a positive effect on future pregnancy planning and general health.

For more information, download our brochure.

NAVIGATION TO CESSATION (N2C)

The Navigation to Cessation (N2C) program aims to increase tobacco prevention awareness, increase tobacco screening, and decrease tobacco usage among adults living with HIV in Bexar County. This program will help HIV-positive patients reduce their rates of tobacco use and lung cancer.

Follow Navigation to Cessation (N2C) on Instagram and Facebook @Navigation2Cessation.

The Refugee Clinic at University Health provides screening, assessment, referral and follow-up services for official Refugees (Amerasian-Immigrants, entrants and parolees from Cuba and Haiti, asylees).

Clients receive a refugee physical exam, immunizations and lab testing for specific issues as defined by the client’s home country. If any of them need additional services, they are referred appropriately.

HOW I STAY SAFE PROGRAM

The How I Stay Safe citywide calendar contest is designed to develop injury prevention awareness in youth, ages 4-12, and help them practice safety at home, on the road and at school. A total of 12 winners in San Antonio and Bexar County will be announced each year. Prizes are awarded to the top four in each of the age categories (4-6 years old; 7-8 years old; 9-12 years old).

Drawings must give a positive message about preventing injuries. Topics include:

• Fire prevention
• Poison safety
• Safety during playtime
• Sports safety
• Stranger danger
• Traffic safety
• Violence prevention
• Water safety

The contest helps teachers incorporate injury prevention lessons into their curriculum. 

Entry forms can be submitted online. Acceptable digital artwork formats include GIF, JPG, JPEG and PDF.

SALUD POR VIDA PROGRAM

Salud Por Vida (Health for Life) is a 12-week health promotion program for CareLink members who have diabetes or hypertension. The program focuses on self-management practices and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Six sessions are offered virtually in both English and Spanish:

• Salud Por Vida Introduction
• How to Control Blood Pressure
• Control Your Diabetes
• Fitness and Exercise
• Eating Well Por Su Salud
• Medication Adherence

For each session you attend, you will receive a $50 credit toward your CareLink balance. If you attend all six sessions, you will receive an additional $50, for a total of $350 toward your CareLink balance.

CONNECTING KIDS TO COVERAGE

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer free or low-cost health insurance for children and teens up to age 19. Children can get:

• Dental care
• Hospital care
• Immunizations
• Mental health services
• Prescriptions
• Regular check-ups
• Sick visits

Children in a family of four earning up to $52,668 a year may qualify.