We Need A Better Solution!
More Rambling From Paul Kawata

I am concerned that we are trying to balance AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) budget shortfalls on the backs of People with AIDS (PWAs). Ohio recently changed the income eligibility levels for PWAs to qualify for its ADAP program. As a result, on July 1st 274 clients lost their HIV medications. New Jersey will change its income eligibility levels, so that on August 1st 947 PWAs will lose their benefits. Changing income eligibility levels to qualify for ADAP benefits may balance your books in the short term; but it is a false solution.

It won’t be long before this change forces PWAs to quit their jobs. Its not worth your job if you don’t have access to these life prolonging medications. PWAs who quit their jobs will need more financial support and more HIV/AIDS services. Turning any short term cost savings into a long term budget nightmare.

Given the resistance profile of some of these drugs, it is imperative that PWAs stay on top of their regimen, not miss any doses, and follow their doctor’s recommendations. At a minimum, we need to grandfather in the 1221 PWAs who may lose or have lost their ADAP benefits. It is unfair to ask these folks to scramble to figure out solutions to a problem they did not create.

We need the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) to address the 2158* (as of July 22nd) individuals on ADAP waiting lists and 1221 PWAs who will lose or have lost their benefits due to changes in income eligibility levels. What America are we going to be? On one hand we have the NHAS goal of increasing access to care and optimize health outcomes, on the other hand we have ADAP waiting lists and individuals losing their benefits as a way to balance ADAP budgets. I hope we are the America defined by the President in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. However, it’s going to take money. Without additional dollars to carry out the President’s ambitious agenda, the strategy is just a plan waiting for the shredder.

*From the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD):
ADAPs with Waiting Lists (2,158 individuals, as of July 22, 2010)
Florida: 839 individuals Georgia: 192 individuals Hawaii: 13 individuals Idaho: 29 individuals Iowa: 98 individuals Kentucky: 214 individuals Louisiana: 189 individuals* Montana: 22 individuals North Carolina: 182 individuals Ohio: unknown individuals** South Carolina: 231 individuals South Dakota: 23 individuals Utah: 126 individuals

ADAPs with Other Cost-containment Strategies (instituted since April 1, 2009)
Arizona: reduced formulary Arkansas: reduced formulary, lowered financial eligibility to 200% FPL Colorado: reduced formulary Illinois: reduced formulary Iowa: reduced formulary Kentucky: reduced formulary Louisiana: discontinued reimbursement of laboratory assays Missouri: reduced formulary North Carolina: reduced formulary North Dakota: capped enrollment, cap on Fuzeon, lowered financial eligibility to 300% FPL Ohio: reduced formulary, lowered financial eligibility to 300% FPL Utah: reduced formulary, lowered financial eligibility to 250% FPL Washington: client cost sharing, reduced formulary (for uninsured clients only)

ADAPs Considering New/Additional Cost-containment Measures (before March 31, 2011***)
Arizona: waiting list California: proposed elimination of ADAP services in city and county jails Florida: reduced formulary, lowered financial eligibility Illinois: reduced formulary, lowered financial eligibility, monthly expenditure cap Oregon: reduced formulary, client cost sharing, annual expenditure cap Wyoming: reduced formulary

The Divine Mrs. Peabody

Remembering The Women Behind The Diamonds

I usually try to limit my remembrances; however, in yesterday’s New York Times, it was reported that my friend and mentor, Judy Peabody died. The Divine Mrs. Peabody transformed my life and the lives of all the people she touched.

Its hard to explain the impact Judy had on my life. When you are a little Queen from a hick town (OK kinda hick—Seattle), I didn’t believe that people like Judy existed except on TV shows like Dynasty. Judy was famous for her big hair, her big jewelry and her big heart.

The crazy thing about the early of years in the fight against HIV/AIDS is that it brought together folks who would never have known each other, let alone socialized, let alone become dear friends. Judy was Auntie Mame to me and so many others struggling to fight AIDS. We would travel the world, she showed me Vienna, Stockholm, Montreal and Omaha.

I met Judy at a benefit by the Alvin Alley dance company for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). She was a vision in black tulle and lace with beautiful diamonds. I remember telling her how much I liked her necklace. She said it was from Harry. Well being the hick that I was, I asked “Harry?” She responded “Harry Winston of course darling”. She then grabbed by hand, kissed my cheeks and took me under her wings.

Legend has it that we got our first government funding for AIDS research because Judy had lunch with Mrs. Pat Buckley and Mrs. Buckley had lunch with Mrs. Nancy Reagan and Mrs. Reagan put a note on someone’s desk and we got our first $15 million.

Judy would never confirm that story, but this I do know is true. I got my first million dollar grant from the Ford Foundation because of Michael Seltzer and Judy Peabody. Michael did all the leg work with the Ford Foundation, I made the “ask” and Judy closed the deal. She had Franklin Thomas, the then President of the Ford Foundation over for a small dinner party. During dinner, she casually mentioned how much she would appreciate his support of our request. Soon after we got a million dollars.

We were in Stockholm for the International AIDS Conference and someone had arranged for Judy and I to have dinner with Dr. Robert Windom and his wife. Dr. Windom was then the Assistant Secretary for Health in the senior Bush administration. Judy orchestrated a dinner on a boat that was the favorite of Bill Blass. I know, could you just... At the end of dinner, Dr. Windom says “thank you for the lovely dinner, I would like to help if I can.” I responded by saying “thank you very much” and proceeded to get up from the table. Well Judy shot me the look. At that time, I didn’t understand the language of this world. In my world, that was a simple thank you, but in Judy’s world it was the opening for the ask. So with Judy’s encouragement, I made a pitch to Dr. Windom. Soon after we received our first government funding.

Beneath the veneer of big hair, designer dresses, and diamonds, Judy was like so many of us, a care giver to hundreds of People with AIDS (PWA). For more then two decades she facilitated a care givers support group at GMHC that she stared with her beloved Luis. She would come to meetings dressed to the nines, she would let all the guys at client services try on her fur coat, and she would take care of us. Judy was Judy wherever she went, be it with youth gangs in Harlem, PWAs in Chelsea or a black tie dinner at the Met.

We would speak several times a week going over our lists of who was in the hospital, which memorials we could attend, and who was having a benefit that we should support. She was my strength during some of the darkest moments of the AIDS epidemic in New York City in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Recently I talked about being with my friend Michael Hirsch as he passed. What I didn’t tell you was what I did after they pulled the plug. I went to Judy’s for dinner. She was having a small dinner party for some famous Russian composer, I don’t recall his name. All I remember was sitting at the table in a complete daze. Afterwards, Judy held my hand while I sobbed into her new Oscar de la Renta dress. She stroked my hair, told me she loved me and said that we would be OK. This became our ritual every time someone we loved... died.

Judy got me through more hospital visits, more funerals, and more memorials then I can remember. If you are very very lucky, you get to have a Judy in your life. Someone who will show you worlds that you never knew existed. I love you Judy, I will miss you, and I will never forget what you did for me, the HIV/AIDS community and hundreds of People with AIDS.

Stand By Me- Benefit Performance for Dancers Responding to AIDS

Me & The President In Newsweek

Please read the article at http://tinyurl.com/38m72jl

Amazing News! Understanding the Results of CAPRISA 004

The results of CAPRISA 004 provide the first evidence that a vaginal microbicide – specifically, tenofovir gel – can help prevent HIV in women. The study represents an exciting milestone in HIV prevention, but more research is needed to confirm these results and to see if there are ways that tenofovir gel can be made to be even more effective. Research also needs to continue exploring similar approaches involving the use of antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention.

The CAPRISA 004 study results are to be presented at the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) in Vienna, July 20, and published online by the journal Science the same day.

SUMMARY

• CAPRISA 004 is the first completed effectiveness study of an antiretroviral (ARV)-based prevention approach. ARV-based prevention approaches incorporate some of the same ARV medicines used successfully for treatment of HIV, and the hope is that they will also be safe and effective for HIV prevention. A microbicide is one approach. Another is oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which involves the use of oral ARV tablets There are 11 ongoing trials of ARV-based prevention in different at- risk populations; additional studies are being planned.
• Researchers conducting CAPRISA 004 tested a vaginal microbicide containing the ARV tenofovir to determine whether women at risk of HIV can be protected against infection by following a specific dosing regimen timed before and after sexual intercourse. Tenofovir is a drug that is commonly used as part of a multi-drug regimen to treat HIV in people who are already infected.
• At the end of the study, there were 39 percent fewer HIV infections among women who used tenofovir gel before and after sex than among those who used a placebo gel with no active ingredient, researchers reported at AIDS 2010. These findings provide proof of concept that ARV-based microbicides, in particular tenofovir gel, can help protect women against HIV.
• CAPRISA 004 evaluated tenofovir gel when used in a certain way – before and after sex. The study involved about 900 women from South Africa. Additional studies are needed to test the promise of tenofovir gel in more women and with different dosing strategies . More research is needed to confirm these results in diverse populations of women and to answer additional questions about the safety and effectiveness of tenofovir gel for preventing HIV.
• VOICE– Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic – is an ongoing study evaluating daily use of tenofovir gel, regardless of when participants have sex. Moreover, VOICE is also testing daily use of two different oral ARV tablets, tenofovir and Truvada®, an important approach to help determine how well each product works compared to its control (placebo gel or placebo tablet) and which approach – gel or tablet – women prefer to use. VOICE will enroll approximately 5,000 women at sites in four countries in southern Africa. About 1,000 women are enrolled in the study so far.
• CAPRISA 004 and VOICE are complementary studies. Each is critical for advancing understanding about the safety and effectiveness of tenofovir gel using different strategies among different populations of African women. Taken together, the studies can provide a much more reliable scientific assessment of tenofovir gel than either alone.

VOICE

• VOICE is a Phase IIb trial designed to evaluate both the safety and effectiveness of two approaches for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV: daily use of an ARV tablet (tenofovir or Truvada) and daily use of an ARV-based gel (tenofovir gel). VOICE is the first effectiveness study of a microbicide that women use every day. It is also the only trial evaluating both a tablet and a gel in the same study, which will help determine which approach women are more likely to use.
• The VOICE Study is being conducted at multiple clinical research sites in South Africa (including the CAPRISA eThekwini site) and at sites in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The study began in September 2009 and is expected to be completed in 2012 with results available some time in 2013.
• Women in VOICE are randomized into one of five study groups, either to one of the three tablet groups: tenofovir, Truvada, or oral placebo; or to one of the two gel groups: tenofovir gel or placebo gel. About 5,000 women will be enrolled, 1,000 in each group. Participants use their assigned study product every day for the

There were 39 percent fewer HIV infections in the tenofovir gel group

• VOICE is the flagship study of the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), an HIV/AIDS clinical trials network established and funded in 2006 by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with co-funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, all components of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). As co-sponsors of the trial, CONRAD of Arlington, Virginia, USA; and Gilead Sciences, Inc., of Foster City, California, USA, are providing the study products free of charge.

WHY WOMEN NEED HIV PREVENTION METHODS

• Women makeup half of the more than 33million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Insub-Saharan Africa, six of ten new HIV infections in adults happen in women. In several southern African countries, young women aged 15 to 24 are at least three times more likely than their male peers to be infected with HIV .
• Among women, unprotected sex with an infected male partner remains the primary risk factor for HIV infection, and in many parts of the world, heterosexual intercourse is the driving force of the epidemic. Women are twice as likely as their male partners to acquire HIV during sex, due in part to biological factors that make women more vulnerable. Although correct and consistent use of male condoms has been shown to prevent HIV infection, often women do not have a choice if they are used. Women need prevention tools that they can decide to use on their own.

###

More information about the VOICE Study can be found at http://www.mtnstopshiv.org/news/studies/mtn003 More information about the results of CAPRISA 004 can be found at http://www.caprisa.org

About the MTN

The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is an HIV/AIDS clinical trials network established in 2006 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The MTN brings together international investigators and community and industry partners who are devoted to reducing the sexual transmission of HIV through the development and evaluation of products applied topically or administered orally, working within a unique infrastructure specifically designed to facilitate the research required to support licensure of these products for widespread use.

Based at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, MTN’s core operations are supported by a network laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, a statistical and data management center housed within the Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention (SCHARP) at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Family Health International, a global organization with expertise conducting clinical protocols. MTN conducts its trials at clinical research sites located in seven countries and spanning three continents. MTN receives its funding from three NIH institutes: NIAID, the National Institute of Mental Health and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Among the groups developing and evaluating microbicides for HIV prevention globally, the MTN is the only one funded by NIH.

Act-Up Paris Demo @ IAS

President Clinton @ IAS: We Need To Be Faster, Better and Cheaper

President Clinton @ IAS On His Legacy

President Clinton @ IAS on Healthcare

AIDS Activists Interrupt AIDS Ambassadors Session at AIDS 2010

Once Again, my picture with the President...kinda

OK that is me in the lower right corner.

$30 Million To CBOs

Thank You Mr. President

July 13, 2010

Honorable Barack H. Obama
President, United States Of America
The White House
Washington, DC

Dear President Obama,

On behalf of the180 national and community based organizations (see list below) on the frontlines of this epidemic, thank you for your leadership and commitment to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Each of us stands here in the footprints of so many heroes we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS. Our friends who fought so hard in the early days could probably never imagine a President holding a reception at the White House to honor the HIV/AIDS community. Most would have loved to be part of this event. We miss them and will never forget the sacrifices they made so that we can be here today.

In the first 18 months of your administration the travel ban on those living with HIV was removed, restrictions on the use of federal funds to support needle exchange were removed, the Ryan White Care Act was reauthorized, and $30.4 Million was set aside as part of the Prevention and Wellness Fund for HIV/AIDS Prevention. However, we’ve also had our challenges in ensuring adequate funding for PEPFAR and other international HIV/AIDS initiatives.

As you implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), we ask that the first thing you address is the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) funding crisis. We appreciate the $25 million to see us through September 30, 2010; however, we are concerned that is not a long term solution and will only get us through a limited period. As of July 8th, 2010, 2291* Individuals are on the waiting list. This number does not include individuals in states that either don’t keep waiting lists, have significantly reduced the drug formulary or have significantly changed the income eligibility levels. On July 1st, Georgia became the 12th state to close enrollment and start a waiting list. Ohio changed its income eligibility levels so that more then 1000 HIV/AIDS patients will lose their benefits. New Jersey also changed its income eligibility levels so that 947 HIV/AIDS patients will lose their benefits. Without an immediate solution, other states will follow.

As you consider solutions, please make it

1. Multi-year funding through 2014;
2. Support states that don’t keep waiting lists but have closed enrollment or that are on the brink of a waiting list;
3. Ensure that all the necessary drugs are covered; and
4. Integration of a permanent solution into health care reform.
   

We look forward to the reviewing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the opportunity to work with your administration to ensure its implementation across the country. Thank you for your support and leadership.

Sincerely,

2 God B The Glory, Inc
Women Supportive Housing Program
Baltimore, MD

A Brave New Day
Jackson MS

A Family Affair
Orangeburg, SC

ACT UP Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

Action for a Better Community
Rochester, NY

Advocates For Youth
Washington, DC

African American Hispanic Health Education Resource Center
Peoria, AZ

AID For AIDS Nevada
Las Vegas, NV

AIDS Alabama
Birmingham, AL

AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families
Washington, DC

AIDS Care Services, Inc
Winston-Salem, NC

AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
New York, NY

AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Chicago, IL

AIDS/HIV Services Group (ASG)
Charlottesville, VA

The AIDS LIFE Campaign
Hartford, CT

AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI

AIDS Project of Central Iowa
Des Moines, IA

AIDS Resources of Rural Texas
Abilene, TX

AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC)
New York, NY

Albany Damien Center
Albany, NY

Amanda Beck-Myers
Ohio

Ananias
Shreveport, LA

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Maryland

Asian Media Access
Minneapolis, MN

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
San Francisco, CA

Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS
New York, NY

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
San Francisco, CA

Aspirations Wholistic Tutorial Services
Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge AIDS Society
Baton Rouge, LA

Bienestar Human Services
Los Angeles, CA

Black AIDS Institute
Los Angeles, CA

The Black Women’s Health Imperative
Washington, DC

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
New York, New York

Paul Browne
Riverdale Park,

CAEAR Coalition
Washington, DC

CALOR
Chicago, IL

Camden NJ Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
Camden, New Jersey

Camillus Health Concern, Inc.
Miami, FL

CARES
Kalamazoo, MI

CareSouth Carolina
Society Hill, SC

Cascade AIDS Project
Portland, OR

Central City AIDS Network, Inc.
Macon, GA

Central Illinois FRIENDS of People with AIDS
Peoria, IL

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Fort Lauderdale, FL

William H. Chastang
Consumer Advocate/Outreach Coordinator
Mobile, AL

Christie’s Place, Inc.
San Diego, CA

Citywide Project/Citywide Ministries
Atlanta, GA

Coai, Inc
San Juan, PR

Community Access National Network
Washington DC

Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)
New York, NY/Providence, RI

Community Information Center, Inc
Portland, OR

Comprehensive Health Education
Milwaukee, WI

Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition
Hartford, CT

DeKalb Prevention Alliance, Inc
Decatur, GA

Desert AIDS Project
Palm Springs, CA

Gregory W. Edwards, EdD
San Francisco, CA

Eternal Hope Community Development Corporation, Inc.
East Orange, New Jersey

Family Heath & AIDS Care Services International
Houston, TX

Family Health Project
New York, NY

Family Planning Association of Puerto Rico
San Juan, PR

F.L.A.S., INC.
Houston, TX

Fort Worth Northside Community Health Center, Inc.
Fort Worth, TX

Greater Love Tabernacle
Dorchester, MA

Gregory House Programs
Honolulu, HI

GROUP Ministries, inc.
Buffalo, New York

Harlem United Community AIDS Center
New York, NY

Harmony House, Inc.
Houston, Texas

Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation
Kailua Kona, HI

Hermanas de Luna y Sol
Long Beach, CA

HEROES
Columbia, LA

HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two, Inc.
Baton Rouge, LA

HIV/AIDS Services for African Americans in Alaska
Anchorage, AK

HIV-AIDS UETS
Atlanta, GA

HIV Care Program
Chicago, IL

HIVictorious, Inc.
Madison, WI

HIV Planning Council Santa Clara County
Santa Clara, CA

Housing Works
New York, NY

Illinois Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy
Chicago, IL

Iris House
New York, NY

Johns Hopkins Local Performance Site
PA/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center
Baltimore, Maryland

Monica Johnson
NMAC Board Member
Columbia, LA

Lambda Legal
New York, NY

Lark Lands, M.S., Ph.D.
H.O.P.E.
Colorado

The LaStraw, Inc
Greensboro, NC

Latino Commission on AIDS
New York, NY

Latino Community Services,
Hartford, CT

Helen Lemay
Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita
Stony Brook University
New York, NY

Liberty Research Group
Rochester, NY

Don Little, MPH
Former Chair of the Oklahoma Native American AIDS Coalition
OK

The Living Room
Fresno, CA

LMPHW Specialty Clinic
Louisville, KY

Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education
New York, NY

Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center
New York, NY

Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group
KY

Michigan Positive Action Coalition (MI-POZ)
Detroit, MI

Minnesota AIDS Project
Minneapolis, MN

Minority AIDS Council of Orangeburg, Bamberg, and Calhoun Council, Inc.
Orangeburg, South Carolina

Missoula AIDS Council
Missoula, MT

MOCHA Center Inc.
Buffalo & Rochester, NY

Multicultural AIDS Coalition, Inc.
Jamaica Plain, MA

The NAMES Project/AIDS Memorial Quilt
Atlanta, GA

Native Health
Phoenix, AZ

National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.
Washington, DC

National AIDS Fund
Washington, DE

National AIDS Housing Coalition
Washington, DC

National Association of People with AIDS
Washington, DC

National Association of Social Workers
Washington, DC

National Latino AIDS Action Network
Washington, DC

National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, DC

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
Denver, CO

NCLR/CSULB Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation and Leadership Training
Long Beach, CA

New Jersey Women and AIDS Network
New Brunswick, NJ

New Destiny Recovery Ministry
Baltimore, MD

New York AIDS Coalition
NYC, NY

New York City AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN)
New York, NY

Nightsweats & T-cells, Co
Cleveland, OH

North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition
NC

Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
Oklahoma City, OK

One Heartland
Milwaukee, WI

One Love Project
Boston, MA

Open Door Clinic
Elgin & Aurora, Illinois

Leonardo Ortega
NMAC Board Member
Washington, DC

David G. Ostrow, MD, PhD
Chicago, IL

Partnership Project
Portland, OR

Choyce Perkinds
Advocate For AAHHERC
Peoria, AZ

Positive Efforts, Inc
Houston, TX

Project Aware at Stanley Street Treatment & Resources
Fall River, MA

PROCEED, Inc.
Elizabeth, NJ

Project HANDLE, Neighborhood House
Seattle, WA

Project Lazarus
New Orleans, LA

Project Link of South Florida, Inc.
Wilton Manors, FL

Proyecto SOL Filadelfia
Philadelphia, PA

Puerto Rico Community Network for Clinical Research on AIDS (PR CoNCRA)
San Juan, PR

Andre Weatherby Rawls
Chicago, IL

Recovery 2000, Inc.
Chicago, IL

Redemption Outreach Intl
Queens, NY

Regional AIDS Project
Manhattan, KS

Genevieve Rohan, FNP-C, AAHIVMS and Tegest Hailu, MD, AAHIVMS, Hailu/Rohan Family Practice
Fresno, CA

SAYFSM
St. Paul, MN

Vanessa Sasso
Malden, MA

Seattle HIV/AIDS Planning Council
Seattle, WA

Shanti
San Francisco, CA

S.H.A.P.E. (Stop HIV/AIDS and Addiction through Prevention and Education)
Detroit, MI

Carlton R. Smith
Baltimore Black Pride,Inc. Founder
Churches United Against AIDS, Board chair
Baltimore, MD

South Carolina Campaign to End AIDS (SC-C2EA)
Columbia, SC

South Central Educational Development, Inc
Bluefield, WV

South Jersey AIDS Alliance
Millville, NJ

South LA Access Center
Los Angeles, CA

Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC)
Birmingham, AL

Southwest Louisiana AHEC
Lafayette, LA

Stanley Street Treatment & Resources
Fall River, Mass

Street Works
Nashville, TN

St. Luke AME Church/ Treat Me Right Inc.
New York, NY

Suburban HIV/AIDS Consortium (SHAC)

• Family Service Association of Bucks County, PA
• Family Service of Chester County, PA
• Family and Community Service of Delaware County, PA
• Family Services of Montgomery County, PA
• Keystone Care, Montgomery County, PA
  

TACTS-THE Association of Clinical Trials Services
Chicago, IL

Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan
Tampa, FL

C. Taylor
Los Angeles, CA

Ti-chee Native AIDS Prevention Project
Bellingham, WA

Rose Todd-Stanford
Cincinnati, OH

Total Health Awareness Team
Rockford, IL

Treat Me Right Inc.
Bronx, NY

Treatment Access Expansion Project
Washington, DC & Boston, MA

Treatment Action Group
New York, NY & Washington, DC

Two Spirit Society of Denver
Edgewater, CO

U Can Do It 2!
Spring, TX

Evelyn Ullah
NMAC Board Member
Miami, FL

Us Helping Us
Washington, DC

Valley AIDS Information Network Inc.
Corvallis , Oregon

Vermont CARES
Burlington, VT

VillageCare
New York, NY

Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA

West County Health Centers, Inc.
Guerneville, CA

Who's Positive
Charlottesville, VA

Willis Center
Worcester MA

The Women’s Collective
Washington, DC

Women’s Health Center
Brooklyn, NY

Women Together For Change
U.S. Virgin Islands

Women Watch Afrika, Inc.
Decatur, GA

*from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors: ADAPs with Waiting Lists (2,291) individuals, as of July 8, 2010: Florida: 605 individuals Georgia: 37 individuals Hawaii: 11 individuals Idaho: 26 individuals Iowa: 100 individuals Kentucky: 205 individuals Louisiana: 131 individuals* Montana: 22 individuals North Carolina: 811 individuals South Carolina: 209 individuals South Dakota: 22 individuals Utah: 112 individuals

NMAC Responds to Release of National AIDS Strategy

Contact: Andy Izquierdo

E-mail: aizquierdo@nmac.org; Telephone: (202) 483-6622 ext. 308; Cell: (202) 680-3824

Kawata says, “The blueprint is there … but now attention must shift to resources."

July 13, 2010 ~ Washington, DC ~ Paul Kawata, Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) responds to the release today of President Obama’s National AIDS Strategy:

"This is a historic time on many fronts. On the one hand, President Obama has made history today by being the first President ever to create a truly national strategy to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The ideas contained in this plan are aggressive and would certainly go a long way toward combating what continues to be one of our nation’s most troubling public health emergencies.

“I use the word ‘plan’ purposefully, however, because without the funds to carry out the President’s ambitious agenda, this falls significantly short of a strategy. The blueprint is most certainly there… but now our collective attention must shift to resources.

“And while the President can rightly lay claim to a historic and much-needed moment in the HIV/AIDS movement, history continues to be made each and every day as more people living with HIV/AIDS continue to join the ranks of those waiting to receive life-saving medicines. Tragically, this has become an issue of resources as well—an issue that has become an all-too familiar refrain in the battle against this disease.

“We must look at this plan as a solid first step in achieving our ultimate goal: eradicating HIV/AIDS. Now the conversation must turn to implementation—and how we fund such an audacious goal. To ignore the difficult topic of HIV/AIDS funding would be tantamount to placing the President’s strategy in a shredder."

Download the President's National HIV/AIDS Strategy Now

Download the President's National HIV/AIDS Strategy Now!!!

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/AIDS-Strategy

The President is hosting a reception to honor the work of the HIV/AIDS Community. As a constituent based organization, NMAC gets invited as one of your representatives. I wasn’t sure if I should send this email, it can be perceived as too self-important; however, I really want to share this experience with all of you. Everyone who should be in the room can’t be due to space limitations, but this acknowledgment is for all of us. You are the true heroes, every time you pass out another condom, give a rapid test, find housing or try to figure out solutions for someone on a waiting list. We all deserve to be honored by the President.

I thought a thank you letter would be a way for all of us to be a part of the event If you are willing to sign-on to this letter, please email info@nmac.org by Noon (Eastern)/9 AM (Pacific) on July 13th. The letter will be given to President and key administration officials after the reception. We are giving it afterwards, because we hope they will announce a solution to the ADAP crisis at the event. If this happens, the letter will be modified.

We think the President is going to release the National HIV/AIDS Strategy at this reception. I’ve not seen the document, but I’ve heard the strategy’s goals are everything the community could want. The challenge is in its implementation. Let’s all reserve judgment until we see the final document. NMAC will hold a conference call at a later date to discuss the strategy.

While at the reception, I will try to twitter and use my Flip to video some of the highlights. I am not sure they will let me bring the Flip into the room. You can follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/pkawata If Mrs. Obama attends the reception, I will definitely give you a fashion review.

If you are willing to sign-on to this letter, please email info@nmac.org by Noon (Eastern)/9 AM (Pacific) on July 13th. Thank you for your consideration and hard work!

July 13, 2010

President Obama
The White House
Washington, DC

Dear President Obama,

On behalf of the national and community based organizations (see list below) on the frontlines of this epidemic, thank you for your leadership and commitment to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Each of us stands here in the footprints of so many heroes we lost to HIV/AIDS. Our friends who fought so hard in the early days could probably never image a President holding a reception at the White House to honor the HIV/AIDS community. Most would have loved to be part of this event. We miss them and will never forget the sacrifices they made so that we can be here today.

In the first 18 months of your administration the travel ban on those living with HIV was removed, restrictions on the use of federal funds to support needle exchange were removed, the Ryan White Care Act was reauthorized, and $30.4 Million was set aside as part of the Prevention and Wellness Fund for HIV/AIDS Prevention. However, we’ve also had our challenges in ensuring adequate funding for PEPFAR and other international HIV/AIDS initiatives.

As you implement the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS), we ask that the first thing you address is the ADAP funding crisis. We know you have this information and you will fix the problem; however, sometimes it bears repeating. As of July 1st, 2010, 2090* Individuals are currently on the waiting list. This number does not include individuals in states that either don’t keep waiting lists or have significantly reduced the drug formulary. On July 1st, Georgia became the 12th state to close enrollment and start a waiting list. Without an immediate solution, other states will follow. As you consider solutions, please make it

1. Multi-year funding through 2014;
2. Support states that don’t keep waiting lists but have closed enrollment;
3. Insure that all the necessary drugs are covered; and
4. Integration of a permanent solution into health care reform.
   

We look forward to the release of the the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the opportunity to work with you in ensuring its implementation across the country. Thank you for your support and leadership.

Sincerely,

Your Name

CALOR
Chicago, IL

Coai, Inc
San Juan, PR

Community Information Center, Inc
Portland, OR

Comprehensive Health Education
Milwaukee, WI

HIV-AIDS UETS
Atlanta, GA

The LaStraw, Inc
Greensboro, NC

Liberty Research Group
Rochester, NY

Kentucky HIV/AIDS Advocacy Action Group
KY

Native Health
Phoenix, AZ

National Minority AIDS Council
Washington, DC

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
Denver, CO

Street Works
Nashville, TN

*from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors: ADAPs with Waiting Lists (2,090 individuals, as of July 1, 2010) Florida: 523 individuals Hawaii: 10 individuals Idaho: 26 individuals Iowa: 97 individuals Kentucky: 198 individuals Louisiana: 112 individuals* Montana: 20 individuals North Carolina: 783 individuals South Carolina: 187 individuals South Dakota: 22 individuals Utah: 112 individuals

Executive Director Leadership Survey
Application Due July 9th
Survey Due July 30th

The best way for the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) to learn and support community based organization is through surveying. Please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/edretreat to fill out our survey on Executive Director Leadership. I know that surveys can be a “pain”. Thank you for your patience. Surveys is due July 30th.

Applications to be part of the Pre-USCA ED meeting are due July 9th. For more information on the pre-meeting, please go to http://tinyurl.com/326y5ed.

As an incentive, we will offer prizes:

1. One USCA Registration & One Place Ticket (using my frequent flyer miles/only good during USCA to Orlando)
2. One USCA Registration & Two Nights Hotel @ Hilton Bonnet Creek (only good during USCA)
3. One USCA Registration
   

The survey will take 30 to 45 minutes to complete (yes it is very long). Only Executive Directors are asked to respond. The survey is for the ED Pre-USCA meeting; however, any ED can respond to win one of the prizes. We need your responses by July 30th.

Thanks for your help. Your input will be the foundation for our meeting.

Julia Davids, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)
Sharon Day, Indigenous Peoples Task Force
Kandy Ferree, National AIDS Fund
C. Virginia Fields, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS
Marjorie Hill, Gay Men’s Health Crisis
Mark Ishaug, AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Michael Kaplan, Cascade AIDS Project
Paul Kawata, National Minority AIDS Council
Oscar de la O, Bienestar
Frank Oldham, National Association of People with AIDS
Patrick Packer, Southern AIDS Coalition
Therese Rodriguez, Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS
Michael Ruppal, The AIDS Institute
Julie Scofield, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
Ron Simmons, Us Helping Us, People Into Living
William Smith, National Coalition of STD Directors
Lance Toma, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
Carole Treston, AIDS Alliance for Children Youth and Families
Phil Wilson, Black AIDS Institute

Rio 2016 - Olympic Games

Job Openings @ NMAC

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has two new job openings. These are new positions, if you know any potential candidates, please ask them to forward their resume to Barbara Scott (bscott@nmac.org), Director of Human Resources

• Sr. Policy Analyst posting: http://www.rcjobs.com/jobs/32407.html
• Communications Specialist posting: http://www.rcjobs.com/jobs/32406.html

From Chris Bates

We deeply regret the technical meltdown that was experienced in the PACHA conference call yesterday, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. It was a very unfortunate and frustrating situation for everyone involved. Because the call was scheduled for only one hour and was devoted to addressing one agenda item, we set aside 8 public comment slots. The 8 individuals who were slated to speak were the first to respond to the Federal Register notice. As many of you know or heard, Carl Schmid from the AIDS Institute was the only one of the 8 who had the chance to speak.

Clearly from the conversations that took place following the abruptly ended conference call and the many postings on blogs and discussions across chat lines it is apparent that many people would like to have the opportunity to give oral remarks for the record.

We have set up a conference call for Friday, July 2, 2010 from 2 PM until 3:30 PM EST. The conference call lines will be open for one and a half hours to permit anyone who wishes to offer public comments to do so at that time. Each presenter will be limited to 2 minutes to place their statement into record.

• Call-in = 888.566.1019
• Passcode = 5709402
  

To send written comments please email Melvin Joppy at Melvin.Joppy@hhs.gov with your name, affiliation, contact information and comments.

Most importantly, PACHA did unanimously pass the ADAP Resolution and we it is being sent through formal channels to Secretary Sebelius. To view the Resolution go here: http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/pacha/meetings/june-2010-resolution.pdf

The transcript of the call will go on the PACHA early next week.

Please stay tuned to http://www.pacha.gov and http://www.aids.gov for news, blogs, and upcoming meeting announcements.

Thank you,
Christopher H. Bates, MPA
Director, PACHA


Cc: Helene Gayle, MD, PACHA Chair
The PACHA membership