Disparities Highlight New Estimates of HIV Incidence in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new HIV incidence estimates on Wednesday, August 4th, that show a visible degree of stability in the annual number of new cases of HIV infection in the United States from 2006 to 2009.  However, the report illuminates disturbing inequities, illustrating some populations where infection rates are increasing rapidly.  The most alarming number is the increase by 48% from 2006 to 2009 of estimated new HIV infections among young black men who have sex with men (MSM), with a statistically significant estimated annual increase of 12.2%.  The report reiterates the fact that gay and bisexual men, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latinos remain most affected by HIV.  The new data also underscores the importance of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and its goal of reducing health-related disparities. More funding and targeted focus must be placed on HIV prevention as it relates to populations that are disproportionately affected. Disparities in health outcomes must be reduced.  AIDS United commits to expanding our efforts to educate Congress, the Administration and the country on the importance of reducing HIV-related health disparities.  Read AIDS United’s Press Release on this report.

Read the report, Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States, 2006-2009

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Debt Ceiling Increase Agreement Leaves Federal HIV and Safety Programs in Peril

On Tuesday, August 2nd, President Obama signed legislation into law that allows the federal debt ceiling to be increased and lays out a framework for reducing the long-term federal deficit.  The House of Representatives passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 with a 269-161 vote and the Senate passed the bill 74-26.  Upon signing the bill, the President was immediately authorized to raise the debt ceiling by $400 billion, thus averting a first ever federal default that likely would have had a catastrophic impact on the domestic and global economies. The bill also ensures that the debt ceiling will not be reached again until after the November 2012 elections.

Though the debt ceiling debate is finally over, our fight is just beginning.  The bill’s provisions do not guarantee a balanced approach to deficit reduction and do little to remove the cloud of potential, devastating funding cuts to non-defense domestic programs. Now, attention will shift to the FY 2012 appropriations process which will determine the discretionary funds for many HIV/AIDS related programs and programs for health care and low-income individuals and families.  At the same time, we need to focus on the newly created joint Congressional Committee, the group that will set longer term deficit reduction proposals.  We will be calling on your support as we continue to advocate vigorously to protect HIV/AIDS programs and other programs critical for vulnerable populations.

Read more highlights of the Budget Control Act or a  section-by-section summary of the debt ceiling compromise bill.

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No Cost Preventive Health Services for Women

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Monday the newly adopted guidelines that will cover preventative health services for women without any cost sharing. This means that there will be no charge of co-pays, co-insurance or a deductible for any of these services.  The preventative health services which will be covered include: HIV and STI screening and counseling, well-woman visits, FDA-approved contraception, and domestic violence screening and counseling. It is mandatory for new health plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012 to include these services without any upfront cost to the patient.  These guidelines will help ensure that women have access to the crucial preventative health services they need regardless of their ability to pay because cost sharing often reduces the probability that preventative health services will be used.

For more information on these guidelines, read a explanation of the new guidelines from Healthcare.gov, HRSA’s guidelines, or the Interim Final Rule

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What are Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs) and What Do They Mean for People Living with HIV?

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs) are temporary high risk insurance pools that provide coverage to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.  Mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), PCIPs work to cover the gap until 2014, when insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate by denying coverage or charging higher rates to people with pre-existing conditions.  PCIPs are operated either by your state or by the Department of Health and Human Services.

For individuals with HIV, PCIPs means access to affordable coverage.  For the HIV community at large, access to PCIPs also means another support network for medical needs.  Utilization of such services becomes increasingly important as safety net programs are increasingly overburdened and underfunded such as state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs).  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made a point to reach out to HIV advocates to specifically move people living with HIV on ADAP waitlists to better facilitate transitions onto PCIPs.  AIDS United urges community based HIV/AIDS organizations to explore the use of PCIPs, perhaps with additional funding from ADAP to wrap around co-pays and other costs to create greater access to insurance coverage.

For more information on PCIPs and how to apply, click here.

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Announcements

Where Should ARV-based Strategies be on the HIV Prevention Map?

The results of recent clinical trials demonstrate that anti-retroviral based prevention strategies hold great promise for ending the HIV epidemic, while simultaneously raising important and challenging questions for the HIV community. Help inform how ARV-based prevention strategies are used across the world by joining AIDS United and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago at the National HIV Prevention Conference, Monday, August 15 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Hyatt Regency Hotel Roswell Room, to share your perspectives and concerns in this facilitated open discussion. Email zfellows1@aidsunited.org to RSVP.

HIV+ gay and bi men! Sign-on letter supporting an informed debate about PrEP based on facts, not misinformation

Sign on to the letter here!

The release of data from the iPrEx study of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in gay and bisexual men and transgender women has led to a good deal of debate about whether and how PrEP should be used. Unfortunately, some of that debate has been fueled by misrepresentations of the study data and, perhaps more alarmingly, by groundless assertions that gay/bi men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) will misuse PrEP, spread drug resistance and act without regard to their health or the health of others if PrEP is made available.

A small group of HIV positive gay/bi men who are committed to promoting safer sex and the open exchange of accurate information are circulating the following letter to help clarify the facts about PrEP, open up community discussion and make clear our belief that we are entitled to respect, accurate information and new HIV prevention tools.

Sign on to the letter here!

This sign on letter is part of a broad array of advocacy activities being undertaken by the national PrEP Committee. Members of the PrEP Committee include individuals from a host of organizations working on PrEP and other new prevention technologies who meet regularly by phone and email to share information and strategize. For allies who are not HIV+ gay/bi men, you can learn more about this work and how to participate by sending an email to Jim Pickett at jpickett@aidschicago.org.

We encourage HIV+ gay/bi men who are allied in the fight against AIDS to help us clear the record about PrEP by signing on to this letter.

Sign on to show support for increased funding for ADAP in Fiscal Year 2012!

State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) across the country are in crisis.   Nearly 9,000 individuals are on wait lists and many states have instituted cost-containment measures such as reduced formularies and enrollment caps.  Join the ADAP Coalition's letter to Senate Appropriators calling for a $106 million increase in FY2012 to help alleviate this crisis.  Please email Daniella Yaloz at dyaloz@nastad.org by Wednesday, August 24th to add your organization.

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