Managing HIV Transmission Risk Behaviours Policy
MP 0137/20 - Managing HIV Transmission Risk Behaviours Policy (pdf 117KB)
Applicable to: This Policy is applicable to all Health Service Providers who administer integrated case management for people living with HIV.
Description: The purpose of this mandatory policy is to ensure a consistent approach to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) integrated case management in Western Australia (WA).
Integrated case management provides an approach to managing HIV transmission risk behaviours among people with HIV who are identified to be placing others at risk of HIV transmission. The presence of a detectable viral load does not itself warrant integrated case management, unless there are also behaviours that place others at risk of HIV transmission. People with HIV who require integrated case management require additional support as they often have complex issues affecting various aspects of their life, which impact on their ability to adhere to effective treatment of HIV.
Integrated case management in WA is underpinned by Parts 3, 4 and 9 of the Public Health Act 2016. The Integrated Case Management Program (ICMP) in WA is guided by a national framework, the National Guidelines for Managing HIV Transmission Risk Behaviours (2018) and the Guidelines for Managing HIV Transmission Risk Behaviours in Western Australia (2022), which sets out the four levels of management.
The integrated case management approach consists of measures to address all biopsychosocial aspects of a person’s life to reduce transmission risk, and if required, may include a Public Health Order or Test Order. Preference is given to the least restrictive approach that will be the most effective. Management is not strictly hierarchical or sequential.
In the Perth metropolitan area, integrated case management is undertaken by specialist HIV treating teams, which may include doctors, nurses and social workers at the tertiary hospitals, in partnership with the ICMP team at the Department of Health WA.
In regional WA, integrated case management is undertaken by the Population Health Units (PHUs), in consultation with the ICMP team at the Department of Health WA, and the specialist HIV treating team where relevant.
The Case Management Advisory Panel (the Panel) oversees integrated case management in WA and undertakes case review of all people with HIV who are being managed at Level Two or higher. The Panel provides recommendations to the Chief Health Officer, who determines the outcome for integrated case management of a person with HIV.
This Policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Public Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.
Date of effect: 22 July 2022
Policy Framework
Public Health
Guidelines-for-Managing-HIV-Transmission-Risk-Behaviours-in-WA (pdf 494KB)