Positive Policy

Medicare Announces Coverage for Annual HIV Test

Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:00:00 GMT

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week that it has expanded coverage to include one, annual voluntary screening for HIV infection for all adolescent and adult Medicare beneficiaries between the ages of 15 and 65, without regard to perceived risk. Coverage for pregnant Medicare beneficiaries will remain unchanged.

10 Reasons to Address HIV/AIDS in Asian-American and Pacific-Islander Communities

Mon, 19 May 2014 21:22:00 GMT

Each year on May 19, we take time to reflect on the impact of the HIV epidemic on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). This includes listening to members of AAPI communities as they discuss how HIV has affected their lives and the lives of those they care about. Recently, my team asked our colleagues at The Banyan Tree Project, the group that sponsors National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, for their top reasons why it is so important to respond to HIV in AAPI communities. From their concerns, I offer this synthesis:

This Is a Huge Week for LGBT Equality!

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:34:00 GMT

This is a watershed week for the LGBT community and its allies. The Supreme Court is considering two cases on marriage equality -- the first a challenge to California's Proposition 8 and the second a challenge to Section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Considerable -- and merited -- attention has been devoted to the fairness, dignity, and equality at stake in these cases. And while these reasons alone should be sufficient to ensure same-sex couples' right to marry, it is important to note that marriage equality also promotes LGBT health and strengthens our ability to combat HIV/AIDS.

Vote Tuesday! Make Sure the HIV/AIDS Community Is Heard!

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

First, let me say that the thoughts and prayers of everyone here at NMAC are with those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our own offices suffered some fairly significant water damage from the storm, but we were extremely lucky that our area was not more heavily impacted. We wish everyone a safe and speedy recovery.

Damned If You Don't

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 17:24:00 GMT

Let me start by qualifying my level of expertise. I have been a lawyer, but not for more than ten years, so I am reading these two judgments with a strange mix of past legal training, current political commitment and the often paranoid eye of someone who could be directly affected by it. If you're willing to swallow that (couldn't help myself), then feel free to read on and agree or disagree with me. For more rigorous legal analysis, I would suggest the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida or the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario.

Updated -- Canada's Supreme Court Redefines Risk

Fri, 5 Oct 2012 17:46:00 GMT

This morning the Supreme Court of Canada released their decision on two cases about HIV disclosure and criminal law that will influence criminal cases in the future.

Ending the Epidemic: A Call for Leadership

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:27:00 GMT

Last year Secretary Hillary Clinton called for the U.S. to demonstrate leadership and bring about "an AIDS-free generation." On World AIDS Day 2011, President Obama announced a deepened U.S. commitment to fighting the pandemic, declaring "make no mistake, we are going to win this fight." Now it's time to incorporate Treatment as Prevention (TasP) into these efforts. We need bold leadership. We may not have all the answers, but we have enough science to start planning to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America.

White House LGBT Conference on HIV/AIDS Next Week

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:48:00 GMT

Next week, the White House is hosting the next in its series of conferences on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues and the topic of focus will be HIV/AIDS. Hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement and the White House Office of National AIDS Policy in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, the conference will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The Next Step in Combatting the Spread of HIV/AIDS Among Women and Girls

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:48:00 GMT

As the Executive Director of the White House Council on Women]]>�Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and Lynn Rosenthal, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, in announcing the next step in President Obama's commitment to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst women and girls. Please read on for more details.

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Ending the Epidemic: Sad News

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:20:00 GMT

My father has a leaky heart valve. Due to his advanced age and other health issues, the doctors have no more options. We're bringing him home. We have hospice to manage his pain and family to comfort his soul. After many hospital visits and memorials, I've learned too much about death. However, this knowledge doesn't stop the anger, pain and sadness. I'm on a plane to Seattle. I'm going home to support my mom, sister and our hospice nurse, and to tell my father I love him.

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Once Again: Mississippi at a Crossroads in the Fight to End HIV/AIDS

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:36:00 GMT

Once again, Mississippi stands at a crossroads regarding how we will move forward in this fight to end HIV/AIDS in Mississippi. Currently Mississippi needs $2.5 million in matching funds so the health department can receive a full federal grant of $13.5 million for prevention, treatment and care of people living with -- and affected by (which is all of us) -- HIV/AIDS.

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Applications to Volunteer at AIDS 2012 Available April 1st

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:54:00 GMT

The success of AIDS 2012 will depend heavily on the support of 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers who will fill a range of crucial positions during the conference, including helping coordinate program activities, greeting and registering delegates, staffing various offices and helping in the Global Village.

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Spring Is Coming. National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Is Coming.

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:53:00 GMT

Tomorrow, Tuesday March 20th is the first day of Spring. It is also the day chosen for the annual observance of National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD).

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A Transformative Time for HIV Prevention and Care

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:25:00 GMT

It's a great honor to join an Administration that's done so much to address the HIV epidemic. I especially want to acknowledge ONAP's prior director, Jeff Crowley, for his stellar leadership over the past three years.

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NMAC's Vision to End the AIDS Epidemic in America

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Can we end the AIDS Epidemic? This is the question facing our movement. The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has an outline for a plan that incorporates enhanced technologies. We hope its use will change the course of the epidemic. There is nothing magic about our plan; however, our use of technology, if proven correct, could make a real difference.

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Making History: Eliminating Viral Hepatitis Disparities in the African American Community

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:00:00 GMT

During February's observance of African American History Month, please join us in working to end the unfortunate history of viral hepatitis' disproportionate impact on the African American community. This Administration is working hard to reduce and eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity. Unfortunately, viral hepatitis is a health problem that is often overlooked by the public as well as healthcare providers.

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February PACHA Meeting to Focus on Women and Girls

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:00:00 GMT

On this, the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I remember my sister-in-law's fight with the disease. Tragically, she did not win that fight -- she left behind a devastated husband and five-year old daughter. But it is in her memory, and the memory of all the friends and loved ones we have lost, that we vow to keep working toward the day when HIV/AIDS is history.

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Commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:00:00 GMT

On this, the 12th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I remember my sister-in-law's fight with the disease. Tragically, she did not win that fight -- she left behind a devastated husband and five-year old daughter. But it is in her memory, and the memory of all the friends and loved ones we have lost, that we vow to keep working toward the day when HIV/AIDS is history.

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PACHA Blog: CMS Care Innovations Summit

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:50:00 GMT

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the HHS Office of the National Coordinator are hosting the first "Care Innovations Summit" in Washington, DC today to "showcase innovative work in care delivery and payment." The Summit will bring together leading innovators from inside and outside the healthcare industry to encourage and promote knowledge-sharing, "matchmaking," and engagement to drive transformation of our healthcare system.

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Interactive Access to CDC's HIV and STD Data

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:40:00 GMT

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new interactive web tool -- the NCHHSTP Atlas -- that allows users to create maps, charts, and tables using HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease (STD) data collected by CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP).

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A Conversation With PACHA Chair Nancy Mahon

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 20:25:00 GMT

On December 1, 2011, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced the appointment of Nancy Mahon, Senior Vice President of MAC Cosmetics and Executive Director of the MAC AIDS Fund, to chair the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).

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The Affordable Care Act and People Living With HIV/AIDS

Wed, 4 Jan 2012 19:50:00 GMT

One of the questions I get frequently is "how is the Affordable Care Act (the health care law of 2010) helping people living with HIV/AIDS?" The short answer is: in many ways. The detailed answer is more complex, but also much more exciting.

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On Mr. Crowley's Departure, Our Appreciation

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 GMT

This month, Mr. Jeffrey Crowley ends his tenure as President Obama's Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy, positions he has held since 2009. We acknowledge, with sincere gratitude, Jeff's significant contributions to fulfilling the President's commitment to develop the United States' first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Since the Strategy's release in July 2010, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Jeff and his colleagues in ONAP to implement the Strategy across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other lead Federal Departments.

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NMAC's Big Audacious Goal: World AIDS Day 2011

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 19:00:00 GMT

My generation stepped up to fight an epidemic that nobody cared about. We've endured the loss of countless friends and lovers. On World AIDS Day 2011, we can change the narrative of loss to one of victory. The first 15 years of our movement were mired in sickness and death. In 1996, protease inhibitors changed this so that the next 15 years were about living with the virus and trying to stop new infections. Let's mark this World AIDS Day as the beginning of the end!

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Getting to Zero on World AIDS Day

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 18:54:00 GMT

President Obama today marked World AIDS Day, speaking at an event called "The Beginning of the End of AIDS" where he outlined the progress that has been made in the global fight against the pandemic.

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American Leadership to Reach an AIDS-Free Generation

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 18:04:00 GMT

Today President Obama was part of a very special World AIDS Day event. It is a day for solemn observance, to remember all those who have been lost to this disease over 30 years, and those still living with HIV today.

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Women's Health Issues Supplement Showcases Gender-Responsive National HIV/AIDS Programming for U.S. Women and Girls

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 18:21:00 GMT

A just-released special supplement to the journal Women's Health Issues provides in-depth information about gender-specific health considerations of U.S. women and girls in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and recommendations for national strategic programmatic improvements to meet their needs.

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Road to AIDS 2012 Town Hall Meetings Kick Off

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:56:00 GMT

Last month, the first Road to AIDS 2012 Town Hall meeting kicked off in San Francisco, California. This was the first of 15 meetings to be held across the country leading up to the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) (note: every Road to AIDS 2012 meeting is free and open to the public). AIDS 2012 is the largest gathering of people working in HIV and will take place July 22-27, 2012 in Washington, DC.

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Remember Our History: More Musings From Paul Kawata

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:59:00 GMT

Occupy Wall Street has captured our nation's imagination. This demonstration has given voice to many Americans who feel that our government has to do more to rebuild our economy and meet our needs. They are tired of Wall Street's excesses, Washington bail outs, and the lack of accountability for our economic collapse.
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Birmingham Kicks Off First of Five Fall Implementation Dialogues on the NHAS

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 14:54:00 GMT

The first of a series of five Implementation Dialogues was held on September 27 in Birmingham, Alabama, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Alys Robinson Stephens Preforming Arts Center. The meeting focused on "Incorporating Prevention and Care Research Into HIV Programs" brought together speakers and panelists from across federal, state and local government, as well as experts from the HIV/AIDS community and research areas. Jeffrey S. Crowley, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) welcomed the more than 150 guests, and thanked them for their work in support of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. UAB President Carol Garrison, and Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also spoke. Dr. Koh encouraged participants to make the National HIV/AIDS Strategy real in the southeast and around the country. He recalled the early days of the AIDS epidemic thirty years ago, and the extreme fear and stigma surrounding the treatment of the first patients, and the challenge of providing care with no plan or coordinated approach in place. He noted that while there is still a great deal of stigma and health disparities around HIV/AIDS, there is now a plan of action in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which he said has, "catalyzed the country".

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National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:08:00 GMT

For many Americans, June 5^th was a day of introspection. It was hard to believe that, as of that date, the AIDS epidemic had lasted 30 years and, despite the remarkable advances we have made in medicine, prevention, and care, we are still facing many of the same challenges we did in the early days of HIV/AIDS.

1981 was a significant year in my life. In addition to it being the year in which we first heard about this mysterious disease that came to be called "AIDS," it was also the year I came out as a gay man. At the age of 23 I was in my first job as a journalist covering health care policy development in Washington I was learning first-hand about the epidemic and its consequences. I remember thinking I was fortunate to have waited so long because if I had come out earlier I might already have been infected. And I remember thinking we would find the answer to this mystery just as we had with so many illnesses before. I certainly never thought I would spend the next 30 years living and working with AIDS as such a central focus.

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Why This Year's U.S. Conference on AIDS Is So Essential

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:31:00 GMT

I believe that this year's United States Conference on AIDS (November 10-13) in Chicago, is one of the most important in our history. Our movement is at a crossroads as we work to implement the Affordable Care Act and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. We can change the course of the epidemic. Biomedical innovations like Treatment as Prevention (TasP) as part of a combined prevention agenda could end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our lifetime.

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Op-Ed: Fighting AIDS -- at the Tipping Point

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:30:00 GMT

Thirty years since the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in the United States, the world finds itself at a tipping point in the fight against this deadly disease. For the first time, grounded in scientific evidence, our efforts can put us within reach of an AIDS-free generation.

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Engaging People Living With HIV in the Implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:34:00 GMT

None of the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) can be realized without the ongoing support and contributions of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS. As part of our ongoing implementation of the NHAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) convened a consultation in late July with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to discuss their perspectives on the Strategy and to identify opportunities for their meaningful involvement in an array of activities in pursuit of the Strategy's goals. People living with HIV/AIDS have a long history of advocacy on behalf of services, policies and research for their community. Their leadership has helped bring about many of the advances made over the past 30 years in HIV prevention programs and care and treatment services.

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Latest Update: Registering for the NHAS Implementation Dialogues

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:00:00 GMT

In two earlier blog posts we outlined the topic and format for a series of regional dialogues that the White House Office of National AIDS Policy will convene to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. These events will be a forum for Federal, state and local agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience.

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Your Questions From the White House: 30 Years of AIDS Video Chat

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:30:00 GMT

Over the summer, AIDS.gov collaborated with the White House to host a live video chat to commemorate 30 years of AIDS in the United States. This was a great listening and engaging opportunity for us to learn more about the HIV and AIDS information that our audiences want, and to help plan our future communication activities.

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Update: National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Dialogues

Fri, 2 Sep 2011 08:30:00 GMT

Our Federal partners, as well as so many community members, people living with HIV, funders, businesses, faith leaders and other stakeholders have demonstrated encouraging support and enthusiasm for the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (Strategy). Perhaps one of the most encouraging developments has been the way in which the NHAS has helped steer the national HIV conversation in the direction of the Strategy's goals. States and local jurisdictions have already begun the process of developing their own Strategy and implementation plans.
To sustain this effort, the Office of National AIDS Policy will convene a series of regional dialogues to focus attention on issues related to implementation of the Strategy. These dialogues will serve as a forum for Federal and state agency representatives, researchers, clinicians, the HIV community, and leaders from the business, foundation, faith and media sectors to share their diverse expertise, and collaborative experience.
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Highlights From the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Earlier this month, AIDS.gov attended the 5th Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference was hosted by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Naima Cozier, AIDS.gov Trainer, presented on geolocation and the HIV/AIDS Prevention & Service Provider Locator. She told us, "As public health professionals, HIV/AIDS activists and providers, we can become engulfed in our work and can lose sight of the reality around us. Listening for the day-to-day context of the audience we are trying to reach, can inspire of innovation and new ideas that will hopefully lead to an increased impact of our health messages."
We asked Venton Jones from the National Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition to share some of his thoughts for the HIV Community.
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What's Your Game Plan? More Musings From Paul Kawata

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The take home messages from the National HIV Prevention Conference (NHPC) were:

Funding is Shrinking
Prevention Is Changing

The question is "Are You Ready?"
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National HIV Prevention Conference -- Highlights of Final Day

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:15:00 GMT

The first of Wednesday's two plenary sessions addressed the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) goal of reducing HIV-related health disparities and health inequities. Three panelists offered perspectives on the current state of HIV-related disparities in the United States including differences related to the geographic and population based distribution of disease, incidence of new infections, health outcomes and mortality. They also explored the role of social determinants in creating, perpetuating or combating HIV-related disparities and inequality. The panelists reviewed some of the promising interventions, policy changes and partnerships that can be adopted to narrow persistent HIV-related inequities.
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Mandates Won't Save Our Kids from HIV -- Actual Follow-Through Will

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:13:00 GMT

It would be an understatement to say Mayor Bloomberg's announcement of a sexual education mandate as part of his Young Men's Initiative was welcome news. Finally, advocates cheer, New York City is starting to get that sex ed is part of any smart solution to the challenges facing our youth, and our communities of color.

But sex ed advocates -- and especially those fighting HIV specifically -- also have plenty of reason to be skeptical. For us, mandates are nothing new: In 1987, we celebrated the long overdue addition of a required HIV/AIDS curriculum in New York schools; this was followed in 1991 by the New York City HIV/AIDS Education Mandate, which included condom access, and a Board of Regents' policy on HIV/AIDS instruction that emphasized abstinence.
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National HIV Prevention Conference -- Highlights of Day 3

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:35:00 GMT

This is the third in our series of daily re-caps from the National HIV Prevention Conference underway now in Atlanta. This re-cap spotlights activities from Tuesday, August 16.
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National HIV Prevention Conference -- Highlights of Day 2

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:20:00 GMT

This is the second in our series of daily re-caps from the National HIV Prevention Conference underway now in Atlanta. This biennial meeting focuses exclusively on the full spectrum of HIV prevention, giving public health professionals, community organizations, clinicians, researchers, advocates and leaders from the HIV/AIDS community an opportunity to exchange information about effective prevention approaches.
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National HIV Prevention Conference -- Highlights of Day 1

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:15:00 GMT

With this post we launch a series of daily re-caps from the National HIV Prevention Conference underway now in Atlanta.
More than 3,000 public health, medical and AIDS community leaders are gathered here to share the latest research and discuss innovative strategies to drive down the number of new HIV infections in the United States. The meeting, organized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and co-sponsored by 40 other public and private agencies, including my office, is the only major U.S. conference dedicated exclusively to HIV prevention. Conference sessions and scientific presentations will focus on strategies to advance the ambitious goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).
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Achieving the Goals of the NHAS for Women

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:11:00 GMT

One-fourth of Americans living with HIV are women. In the United States, the disease disproportionately impacts women of color: The HIV infection rate among Black women is 15 times that of white women and the rate among Hispanic women is more than four times that of white women, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Further, women and men have different biological, psychological, and cultural factors that increase their vulnerability to infection and disease progression. Achieving the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) will require addressing the unique HIV prevention, care and treatment needs of women in the United States. With that in mind, I wanted to share a number of recent events that will help move all of us closer to achieving the goals of the NHAS for women in America.
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Guiding Principles for Treatment as Prevention: More Musings from Paul Kawata

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 10:09:00 GMT

Are You Ready to start Treatment As Prevention (TasP)? What is your agency's role in the implementation of this promising new HIV prevention tool? How will it change your community's prevention agenda? HIV Prevention Trial Network (HPTN) study 052 showed us that starting HIV-positive individuals in a treatment regimen early and reducing their viral load to undetectable can cut the risk of HIV transmission by as much as 96 percent.
Next week is the National HIV Prevention Conference (NHPC). In advance of this meeting, I want to share my thoughts on TasP. Without any inside information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), my personal belief is that they may retool HIV prevention programs to make TasP a cornerstone for our work. Behavioral interventions like "Prevention for Positives" will continue to be important, and HIV testing will need to remain a top priority, but now these programs will support TasP and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).
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White House Commemorates World Hepatitis Day 2011

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:10:00 GMT

Today, I was honored to participate in a special White House event to commemorate the first official World Hepatitis Day. This event was one of many held across the United States and around the world for communities to join together and focus attention on the global health threat of viral hepatitis and promote actions to confront it.
Worldwide, one in twelve persons are estimated to be living with viral hepatitis and about one million people around the world die every year because of viral hepatitis. Many people infected with viral hepatitis are unaware of their status, and as a result, may unknowingly transmit the infection to others. Without knowing their status, these patients also face the possibility of developing otherwise preventable debilitating or fatal liver disease.
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Prevention and Public Health Fund: Grant Applications Leave Little Room for HIV

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:07:00 GMT

Applications to receive funding through the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health (PPH) Fund were due Friday, July 22, 2011. This funding opportunity, announced in a news release last month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will allow national networks of community-based organizations to apply for more than $4 million to help support, disseminate and amplify the evidence-based strategies of the Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program.
CTGs are intended to empower communities to implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases.
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Op-Ed: ADAP and the Political Game -- Insight From Policy Newbies

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Last week we attended the fourth annual AIDS Drug Assistance Program Conference hosted by the ADAP Advocacy Association in Washington, D.C. The conference brought together some of the brightest minds in the AIDS community. Their main objective: Figure out how to eliminate the nation's growing ADAP wait list. As interns and students coming into the world of AIDS for the first time, we were both inspired and frustrated by what we saw.
We were inspired by the people in the room. The conference attendees represented a variety of ages, races, socioeconomic and employment backgrounds, but they united for one clear goal. Their vast knowledge and obvious commitment to fighting injustice gave us hope for the future of HIV/AIDS policy.
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Online Resources to Protect Those With HIV/AIDS

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:00:00 GMT

To mark the one-year anniversary of the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Justice Department has launched a new section of its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website, www.ada.gov/aids.
Persons with HIV and persons with AIDS are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which gives federal civil rights protections to persons with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, and state and local government services. The new web page provides important information and resources related to combating discrimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS.
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Isn't It Ironic? More Musings from Paul Kawata

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:08:00 GMT

Wouldn't it be ironic if People with AIDS (PWAs) were the reason we stopped the epidemic?! After all of the blame, all of the discrimination, all of the judgment, there is something quite wonderful about the prospect of PWAs bringing an end to this devastating disease.
At the 6th International Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, you can feel the excitement as people talk about HIV Prevention Trial Network study 052 or Treatment As Prevention (TAP). At a panel this afternoon, a researcher called it the "light at the end of the tunnel."
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The National AIDS Strategy at One Year

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:59:00 GMT

It's been one year since we launched the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and today we are releasing an implementation update to keep you up to speed on the latest work. We plan to release a more comprehensive progress report after the conclusion of the calendar year, but as we mark this critical first year, we wanted to provide some reflections on key first-year achievements.
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Op-Ed: The Secret to Ending AIDS -- Better Secretaries?

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:59:00 GMT

At last I have discovered what's really stopping us from conquering the AIDS epidemic -- clerical errors!

This June, as Housing Works Vice President for National Advocacy and Organizing, I worked my tucchus off in collaboration with other AIDS organizations on three separate documents to set both the U.S. and international governments on the right road to ending AIDS.

Amazingly, the issue of housing as a structural intervention for both access to care and prevention of HIV was "inadvertently" dropped from all three key documents. Three times! Amazing! What are the chances?

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The National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Nebraska's "Spitting Bill"

Fri, 8 Jul 2011 15:14:00 GMT

One year ago this month, the United States' Office of National AIDS Policy released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), the first-ever comprehensive coordinated HIV/AIDS plan to reduce the number of new HIV infections, improve access to care and eliminate the stigma and discrimination that undermines our best efforts to combat the AIDS epidemic. The strategy states that "state legislatures should consider reviewing HIV-specific criminal statutes to ensure that they are consistent with current knowledge of HIV transmission and support public health approaches to screening for, preventing and treating HIV."
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Update on PEPFAR's Anti-Prostitution Pledge

Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:01:00 GMT

A victory in the global fight against HIV/AIDS occurred yesterday. The United States 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that the U.S. government cannot require U.S. organizations that receive foreign assistance to fight HIV/AIDS globally to denounce prostitution -- a policy that has had far reaching consequences around the world. (See full court decision here.)
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NMAC Launches ADAPaction.org, Urges Action on ADAP!

Thu, 7 Jul 2011 14:32:00 GMT

Today, the National Minority AIDS Council launched a new website, www.ADAPaction.org, to increase awareness of the crisis facing our nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. The site, part of NMAC's ADAP Beyond the Numbers campaign, and supported by the MAC AIDS Fund, will feature videos and stories of real life ADAP clients who rely on the programs for their life-saving medications. ADAPaction.org will also provide tools to track the latest developments surrounding wait lists and other cost containment measures being instituted by states across the country.
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Secretary Clinton Highlights U.S. Partnership in Fighting AIDS

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Following last week's United Nations High-Level Meeting on AIDS, I had the pleasure of joining Secretary Clinton on her visits to Zambia and Tanzania.

During visits to sites supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Secretary Clinton joined President Obama and Ambassador Susan Rice in reaffirming America's unwavering commitment to saving lives around the world. Secretary Clinton pledged continued U.S. support for country leadership, stressing that nations must drive their own efforts.
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What the Numbers Mean to Your Agency: Are You Ready? More Musings From Paul Kawata

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:11:00 GMT

In the June 3, 2011 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that at the end of 2008 there were 1,178,350 Americans living with HIV. This number includes approximately 236,400 people who do not know they are HIV positive. The CDC also estimated that 350,000 HIV infections were averted due to HIV prevention efforts. Research has shown that avoiding these infections saved over $125 billon in medical costs.
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National HIV Testing Day TwitterViews

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:10:00 GMT

New media has become a crucial tool for relaying health information, sharing resources, developing and maintaining partnerships, promoting events and building community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AIDS.gov and other Federal partners have taken great strides in using new media as a form of outreach and communication, including the use of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, podcasts, e-cards and online videos. We have been delighted to see partners, nonprofits, public health professionals, advocates and others who have been touched by HIV/AIDS unite to form a community under such social media platforms.
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Global HIV/AIDS: A Moment to Look Back, and to Move Ahead

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 10:55:00 GMT

This week, I am in New York for the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. This discussion will mark critical milestones, including three decades of the pandemic and the 10-year anniversary of the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS and the resulting Declaration of Commitment. The past decade has seen remarkable advances in the fight against AIDS in developing countries, with the United States playing a pivotal role through PEPFAR. As the largest donor by far to fighting global HIV/AIDS, the U.S. will use this landmark event to re-energize public support and political commitment for a continued, effective, and shared response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.
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Reaching Youth Online Through HIV-Positive Youth Peer Educators

Tue, 31 May 2011 10:44:00 GMT

The East Bay AIDS Center (EBAC) in Oakland, California serves approximately 1,500 East Bay residents living with HIV or AIDS. The Downtown Youth Clinic (DYC), part of EBAC, offers free and confidential services to HIV-positive youth between the ages of 13 and 24. We talked with Daniel to learn more about their HIV-positive youth HYPE program.
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Natural Disasters and People Living With HIV and AIDS

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:23:00 GMT

As if the tornadoes that recently devastated several communities including Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the flooding along the Mississippi River weren't enough, June 1 marks the start of hurricane season. These are all stark reminders of the stunning impacts these forces of nature can have on anyone and the importance of doing what we can to be prepared to the extent we can.
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My Visit to Swaziland: The Country With the World's Highest HIV Prevalence Rate

Thu, 26 May 2011 10:28:00 GMT

Last week, I wrote about my attendance at the PEPFAR annual meeting in South Africa, the country that has more people living with HIV (over 5 million) than any other country in the world. After this meeting, I visited the neighboring country of Swaziland, which has the unwelcome distinction of having the highest HIV and TB prevalence rates in the world.
This part of my trip had special personal significance for me. Twenty-one years ago, I had the privilege of serving as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland, where I worked as a high school science teacher. This trip really was part homecoming as Swaziland remains a part of me, and it gave me a chance to reconnect with many friends whom I haven't seen in more than a decade. But, I also spent several days with the PEPFAR team in the country -- especially the Peace Corps -- learning about the broad range of ways that the United States government is extending a hand of friendship and is partnering with Swaziland to respond to their HIV epidemic.
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The AETC Network Responds to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:15:00 GMT

The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) are working in a number of ways to support the goals set out in the President's National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The AETC Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau with funds from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, currently consists of a network of 11 Regional AETCs and five National AETCs. The mission of the AETCs is to improve the quality of life of patients living with HIV/AIDS through the provision of high quality professional education and training for health care providers. The centers conduct targeted, multi-disciplinary education and training programs for health care providers treating persons with HIV/AIDS in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the six U.S.-affiliated Pacific Jurisdictions. Training is targeted to providers who serve minority populations, the homeless, rural communities, incarcerated persons, community and migrant health centers, and Ryan White CARE Act-funded sites. AETCs focus on training a diverse group of clinicians including physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, nurses, oral health professionals, and pharmacists. The Regional AETCs partner with 130 local centers of HIV care, including academic healthcare institutions, minority-serving agencies, and community or public health centers, termed Local Performance Sites, to deliver to deliver tailored training to clinical sites throughout the country based on local needs and practices as well as capacity building work, clinical consultation, and information dissemination.
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What is Your Economic Engine? More Musings by Paul Kawata

Wed, 25 May 2011 18:25:00 GMT

Recently I asked "Are You Ready?" It was the beginning of a new series of musings written to support community based organizations (CBOs) through expected or unexpected transitions like:

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)

12 Cities Project

Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plans (ECHPP)

Update of Funding Formula for Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)

Ryan White Reauthorization (RWCA)

HHS Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis

HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

These musings are not my usual evocative writing; in fact, the suggestions are kinda mundane. I want my life to be committed to fighting this virus, saving lives and changing the world. Who wants to do everyday chores? Come to find out, those everyday chores are essential components for building a strong economic engine. It may not be as grand as changing the world, but without it there will be no agency.
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Are You Ready? More Musings by Paul Kawata

Fri, 6 May 2011 18:58:00 GMT

Between today and 2014 there will be a total transformation of how HIV/AIDS prevention and care is provided in America. Are You Ready?
These changes include:

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)

12 Cities Project

Enhanced Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plans (ECHPP)

Update of Funding Formula for Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)

Ryan White Reauthorization in 2013 (RWCA)

HHS Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis

HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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How Congress Can Cut Criminal Justice Spending (and Fight HIV): FAMM's Plan

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:20:00 GMT

One of the social drivers of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that we here at the HIV PJA are working to address is the intersection of HIV and mass imprisonment. Our criminal justice system fuels the epidemic in a number of ways, from the individual to the community level, with a disproportionate effect on people of color. (For a high-level overview of mass imprisonment as a social driver of HIV, check out this fact sheet from CHAMP/Project UNSHACKLE. A comprehensive organizing toolkit around these issues, put together by Project UNSHACKLE, can be found here.)
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A Bridge for ADAPs to 2014: A National Conversation

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:23:00 GMT

On April 7, 2011, on behalf of the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, I attended "A Bridge for ADAPs to 2014: A National Conversation," an event hosted by Dr. E. Blaine Parrish, Associate Dean of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, DC. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together a broad range of stakeholders to discuss the anticipated impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and to identify options that will allow ADAPs to meet growing demands for services, in advance of the full implementation of ACA in 2014.
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2011 Budget Deal: What Does It Mean for HIV/AIDS Funding?

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:13:00 GMT

Last week, the details of the budget agreement between Congressional Republicans and Democrats were released. The Continuing Resolution, which will fund the government for the rest of fiscal year 2011 (through September), will cut $78.5 billion from President Obama's 2011 budget request and $37.6 billion from 2010 funding levels.
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Encouraging the Development of Statewide HIV/AIDS Plans

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:12:00 GMT

On Tuesday, April 12, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) convened a consultation to explore the principles and practices that should be considered as we move forward in our efforts to encourage the development of state HIV/AIDS plans as recommended in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).
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New Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 20:10:00 GMT

Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (PDF 2MB). This document will serve as a road map for eliminating health and health care disparities for racial, ethnic and other underserved communities. Addressing health disparities is a priority for the HIV community, and a key goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, mentioned on page 8 of the HHS Plan.
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Honoring Elizabeth Taylor's Work in the HIV Community

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:42:00 GMT

AIDS.gov joins our colleagues at organizations such as amFAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), and POZ in recognizing the passing of Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011). In addition to being known as an Oscar-winning actress, Ms. Taylor was truly committed to responding to HIV from the early days of the epidemic. In particular, she was dedicated to research and addressing discrimination and stigma around HIV. The HIV community is so grateful for all of her efforts.
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One Year: The Affordable Care Act

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:36:00 GMT

A year ago this week, President Obama signed the landmark Affordable Care Act into law. In just one year, the Affordable Care Act has already given Americans more freedom and control over their health care choices. The Affordable Care Act is working to lower health care costs for families and businesses. It also is working to make access to the health insurance system fairer -- now health coverage is more secure and Americans have more options. Read more about how the Affordable Care Act impacts people living with HIV/AIDS.
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Defying the Odds: End the Rise of HIV/AIDS in Native American Communities

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:25:00 GMT

HIV remains a highly stigmatized condition. It is a serious medical condition and people still die of AIDS. Nonetheless, we have highly effective treatments for people living with HIV and better tools than ever before to prevent infection. As uncomfortable as it may be for some people to talk about HIV and AIDS, discussing the basic facts about transmission, testing, and treatment are essential to stopping this epidemic in its tracks. That is why on Sunday, March 20^th, we will commemorate the fifth annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to educate and encourage American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) to take action to stop the spread of this disease.
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Act Now: Choice in HIV Prevention -- Let FDA Look at the PrEP Data

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Do you believe that we need new tools in our HIV prevention toolbox? At the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, we support broad and strategic research to explore new methods and interventions for HIV prevention.
Like many of you, we were intrigued by the results of the iPrex trial of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that came out late last year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should review those results and determine if PrEP is safe and effective enough to be approved for widespread use.
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U.S. Government Condemns Violence & Discrimination Against Sex Workers

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:02:00 GMT

"We agree that no one should face violence or discrimination in access to public services based on sexual orientation or their status as a person in prostitution."
This is a familiar sentiment to prevention justice activists, but it comes from an unfamiliar corner: for the first time, the U.S. government has taken a stance on the human rights of sex workers.
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Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Seek to Engage Networks in Supporting Strategy's Goals

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:30:00 GMT

During this National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, I thought it would be timely to share with you that last week several of my colleagues and I met with representatives from Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships from five Federal departments to continue our dialogue about collaborative activities to support the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
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NMAC on the Hill -- National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:58:00 GMT

Today is the 6th annual National Women and Girl's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). The goal of NWGHAAD is to highlight the increasingly heavy impact the AIDS epidemic has had on women. This impact has been even more severe among women of color.
To mark NWGHAAD, NMAC shared the story of Vanessa Mills, a brave African American mother living with HIV. Vanessa came to Washington, DC in February of this year to share her experiences with members of Congress. She was also kind enough to take some time to speak with NMAC staff and to have her story recorded.
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Advocacy Spotlight: Robert Childs, NCHRC

Thu, 3 Mar 2011 13:38:00 GMT

What do North Carolina law enforcement, migrant workers, Army veterans, injection drug users (IDUs), diabetics, transgender people, sex workers, and pharmacists have in common?

Well, Robert Childs, for one thing.
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Why Supporting Reproductive Health is HIV Prevention

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 09:41:00 GMT

As the Director of Development for Aniz. Inc, my role is to find resources and create partnerships that support the agency's mission. My work brings me in frequent contact with many organizations that focus on the health of women. And as these organizations face new challenges to their missions, standing to the side and remaining silent regarding bills to limit reproductive health choices that are working their way through Congress was not an option.
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The 12 Cities Project

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT

An important component of the HHS National HIV/AIDS Strategy Operational Plan is what is known as "the 12 Cities Project." The HHS-wide project supports and accelerates comprehensive HIV/AIDS planning and cross-agency response in the 12 U.S. jurisdictions that bear the highest AIDS burden in the country.
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Dr. Eric Goosby's Story: Fighting HIV/AIDS Around the Globe

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:00:00 GMT

I live by the motto "To Live and To Serve." In addition to the great influence of my mother and father, this perspective has led me to a career that has combined my passions for medicine and public service. After growing up in San Francisco and attending college at Princeton University, I earned an M.D. at University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where I also completed my internship and residency with a fellowship in General Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases. As a young physician in the 1980s in San Francisco, I found myself in the middle of the emerging AIDS epidemic in America, which became the focus of my career.
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Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum Statement on the President's FY2012 Budget

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:37:00 GMT

On Monday, February 14, President Obama released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012 which aims to reduce the national deficit and put the country on a path towards fiscal sustainability. To our disappointment, there were a number of spending reductions and freezes to critical health-related programs. We fully understand and appreciate the President's efforts to preserve core initiatives to reduce health and health care disparities but believe certain proposed spending reductions will disproportionately impact vulnerable Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
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Agency Operational Plans and the President's FY 2012 Budget Highlight Our Continued Efforts to Implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:36:00 GMT

One of the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy was to refocus existing efforts and deliver better results to the American people within current funding levels, as well as make the case for new investments. The Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) is excited to share some of the progress the Obama Administration has made over the last few months.
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Obama Budget for HIV/AIDS Show Increases; Republicans Plan Cuts

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:09:00 GMT

Today the White House Office on National AIDS Policy hosted a conference call on the Administration's budget request -- what's in it for people living with HIV and/or for the LGBT community. While we've heard in the press that the new budget includes cuts in most social spending domestically, there is actually increased funding in most HIV-related programs. You can read what they're proposing for HIV/AIDS online.
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HIV Left Out? HHS Announces Massive Public Health and Prevention Funding -- But No Mention of HIV

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:39:00 GMT

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the section of the federal government that oversees the majority of health related federal programs, announced $750 million in Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) investments for 2011. The announcement is big news in the fight for health equity and community-based health promotion and prevention. HHS is explicitly targeting health disparities, coordinated chronic disease prevention, enhanced public health infrastructure and improved research and tracking -- all big wins for in the fight against the structural drivers of the HIV epidemic.
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Urgent Action Required to Fight Unscientific, Stigmatising Nebraska Bill That Will Criminalise Body Fluid Assault on Public Safety Officers

Tue, 1 Feb 2011 14:41:00 GMT

This Friday, February 4th, the Nebraska State Legislature will debate The Assault with Bodily Fluids Bill which would criminalise striking any public safety officer with any bodily fluid (or expelling bodily fluids toward them) and includes a specific increase of penalty to a felony (up to five years and/or $10,000 fine) if the defendant is HIV-positive and/or has Hepatitis B or C.
The Bill ignores the fact that HIV cannot be transmitted through spit, urine, vomit, or mucus; punishes the decision to get tested for HIV; and will not keep public safety officers safer, but rather will reinforce misinformation and stigma about HIV.
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PACHA to Convene Next Week

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:12:00 GMT

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) meets on January 27 and 28 in Washington, DC. During next week's meeting, PACHA will receive an update on the operational plans submitted to the White House by the Federal Departments and Agencies identified as leads in the Strategy.
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New Nebraska Bill Proposes Increased Penalties for Spitting on Cops if You're Living With HIV or Hepatitis; Media Fails in Its Reporting

kterrell@thebody.com (Kellee Terrell) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:47:00 GMT

Even though HIV and hepatitis C are not spread through the transference of saliva, that scientifically proven fact didn't stop Nebraska State Senator Mike Gloor. On Jan. 10, Gloor proposed a bill that would make spitting on a police officer a misdemeanor in his state, but for someone living with HIV or hep C, the punishment would be much more severe.
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Implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy at the State and Local Level

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:17:00 GMT

Last month, we attended the 2010 HIV Prevention Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. This year's Summit offered an opportunity to discuss innovative strategies and share lessons learned for enhancing HIV prevention programs. Participants included grantees funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local health departments, community planning group (CPG) members, capacity building assistance providers, community-based organizations, and other interested HIV prevention partners.
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Urge Your Elected Officials to Defend the Affordable Care Act

Thu, 6 Jan 2011 18:16:00 GMT

New House Leadership of the 112th Congress began their new session by announcing that their first order of business would be to repeal the Affordable Care Act of 2010 instead of focusing on their campaign pledges to address the economy and create jobs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a website detailing the consequences of repealing the Act: tinyurl.com/26lu3kd. This website contains concrete data and evidence detailing what is at stake from a national and state perspective.
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