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Newsletter: Policy

Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities

Julio Contreras

Hill Happenings

Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations

Lawmakers are quickly pivoting to Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) spending discussions after President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R.2471) into law on March 15. On March 28, the White House released the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) Executive Budget Request to Congress, highlighting the Administration’s spending and policy priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Click here to read a blog post highlighting the key funding proposals from the FY2023 President’s Budget Request

NASTAD is monitoring the FY2023 appropriations process and will advocate for the highest possible funding levels on behalf of HIV and hepatitis programs.

NASTAD Calls on Congress to Build on Historic COVID-19 Investments to Recruit a Strong Public Health Workforce

NASTAD joined a coalition of 32 organizations and called on top appropriators to build off of the investments to the public health infrastructure that COVID-19 emergency legislation temporarily authorized in order to build a sustainable and diverse public health workforce. Health departments have struggled to retain a robust workforce due to funding limitations and challenging labor conditions, such as low wages and limited benefits. And, as COVID-19 emergency funding winds down, health departments require more resources to sustain programs that have been essential for COVID-19 response and addressing underlying health equity issues.

Senate Confirms Nani Coloretti as Deputy Director of OMB

On March 29, the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Nani Coloretti to be the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Coloretti made history by becoming highest-ranking Filipino-American in the Biden Administration. Coloretti has prior government experience, serving as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Obama Administration.

Administration Activities

CDC Formally Adopts ACIP Recommendation to Vaccinate All Adults Ages 19-59

On March 31, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Adults Aged 19-59 Years: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for – United States, 2022, that officially recommends universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination for all adults ages 19 to 59 in the U.S. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky adopted the recommendations after the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted in favor of broadening risk-based HBV immunization guidelines in October of 2021, recommending universal adoption of the HBV vaccine for all adults ages 19 to 59 and for adults 60 and older with known risk factors. NASTAD applauds Director Walensky and the CDC for formally adopting the universal HBV vaccination recommendations, which will help to ensure that we continue to make progress on preventing HBV transmission, improve health equity by removing barriers to vaccine access, and bring the country closer to the goal of viral hepatitis elimination. 

President Biden Issues Proclamation on National Public Health Week

On April 1, President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing April 4-10 as National Public Health Week. The proclamation celebrates health care workers and public health professionals, and the progress the country has made to revitalize the public health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, President Biden calls for an expansion of affordable health coverage, including addressing the high cost of prescription drugs, and calls on the nation to recommit itself to improving the public health of the nation.

HHS Awards $256.6 Million to Restore Access to Title X Family Planning Services

On March 30, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it awarded $256.6 million in grant funding to restore access to the Title X, the nation’s only federally-funded family planning program. HHS will fund 76 grantees to deliver equitable and affordable family planning services across the country, welcoming back grantees that were formerly ineligible to participate in the program after the Trump Administration leveraged the rulemaking process to disqualify providers who offer abortion services and counseling from participating in the Title X program.

Resources

CDC NOFO: Strengthening Syringe Services Programs

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aims to increase access to harm reduction services for people who currently inject, or have a history of injecting, drugs and reduce incidence of infectious diseases and other complications of injection drug use through two components. Click here to read a blog post from the Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis on the new NOFO. Applications are due Monday, May 2.

CDC NOFO: Enhanced Surveillance of Persons with Early and Late HIV Diagnosis

This NOFO will support identification and recruitment of adults with recent HIV diagnoses at stage 0 and stage 3 to improve understanding of barriers and gaps associated with new infection and late diagnosis in the era of multiple testing modalities and prevention options such as PrEP. These enhanced surveillance activities will identify actionable missed opportunities for early diagnosis and prevention, thus informing allocation of resources, development and prioritization of interventions, and evidence-based local and national decisions to improve HIV testing and address prevention gaps. Applications close April 26.

Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership (HAP) Hill Day

Join the Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership (HAP) for a virtual Hill Day on Monday, April 11 to close out the 2022 Hepatitis Policy and Advocacy Summit. Fill out this registration form to join hepatitis providers and advocates from your state/jurisdiction for a virtual hill visit with your elected leaders. All participants will receive calendar invites to their scheduled hill visits (each visit is 30 minutes long) on Wednesday, April 6.

Job Postings

Viral Hepatitis Diagnostics Working Group Coordinating Consultant – Treatment Action Group (TAG)

The Viral Hepatitis Diagnostics Working Group Coordinating consultant will work with TAG’s Policy Team and Working Group members to coordinate, facilitate, and support the WG to advance agreed policy and funding priorities and objectives. This includes drafting written materials, meeting facilitation and co-facilitation, notetaking, informing and guiding advocacy strategies, contributing to building WG consensus, engaging stakeholders and supporting educational activities such as webinars.

NASTAD/NVHR/NACCHO RFP: HepNET Training Consultant

NASTAD and its partners National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) and National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) are working with state and local health departments (LHDs), community-based organizations (CBOs), clinical providers, people with lived experience, syringe services programs (SSPs) and harm reduction programs to identify and address the unmet needs of people who inject drugs (PWID) and improve their access to viral hepatitis education, prevention, testing, linkage to care, and treatment. We are seeking a Training Consultant to provide skills and support for people with lived experience to be engaged as part of the Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing (HepNET) training and technical assistance. The project aims to accelerate coordinated strategies in states and communities through expanding a national, state and local network. Applications are due on April 6, 2022.

NASTAD RFP: Minority Leadership Program – 360 Assessment Consultant

NASTAD is requesting proposals for consultants to work with NASTAD’s Health Equity team to develop and deliver 360 performance review assessments and feedback for the Minority Leadership Program (MLP). Candidates should send application materials and any questions by e-mail only to Donovan Cousan (dcousan@NASTAD.org). Submissions are due by 11:59 ET on April 8, 2022.

Patient Care Manager (Operations Manager), HIV/AIDS – Tallahassee, FL

This is a highly responsible position in the HIV/AIDS Section of the Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, Florida Department of Health. This position develops and administers the overall functions of the HIV Patient Care Program funded through state and federal resources. This position reports directly to the Administrator of the HIV/AIDS Section. Applications close April 14.

STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program, Louisiana Department of Health Office of Public Health

Department of State Health Services – Austin, TX

  • Research Specialist V
    • Under the supervision of the Group Manager, the MMP Project Coordinator/Research Specialist V performs advanced research and epidemiological work requiring specialized knowledge of health behaviors related to TB/HIV/STD transmission. Responsible for the coordination of activities involved in the implementation of the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) in Texas. Coordinates activities related to sampling frame development, healthcare facility, provider, and patient recruitment and data collection. Prepares budget and grant documents, data collection protocols and procedures, annual, interim progress reports, and other reports required by CDC or DSHS. Applications close April 18.
  • Program Specialist IV
    • Under the direction and supervision of the TB/HIV/STD Surveillance Group manager and Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR) Epidemiology Team Lead, conducts activities related to data management and processing of HIV and STD laboratory reports. This position will provide technical expertise in the interpretation of laboratory data, and will be responsible for monitoring data quality of incoming laboratory reports. This position, along with the ELR Epidemiology Team Lead, will work directly with laboratories to resolve any reporting issues and improve data quality. This position will assist in the design and implementation of new and/or revised methods for receipt and dissemination of electronic data to more effectively meet HIV/STD surveillance needs.  Applications close April 8.
  • Public Health & Prevention Specialist II
    • Public Health and Prevent Specialist II performs a variety of tasks under the direction of the STD/HCV Epidemiology and Surveillance Group Manager related to the management of HIV/STD investigational data, including database maintenance, report tracking, data entry, and quality assurance. This position will aid in development of short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and objectives, and the development of standards for achieving strategic operational goals. Exercises independent judgment and professional discretion with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment to administrate, advise, plan, and coordinate duties. Applications close April 18.
  • HIV/STD Director
    • The HIV/STD Director works under the general direction of the Director of the TB/HIV/STD Section (THSS) of the DSHS. Performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work leading the day-to-day operations of the HIV/STD Prevention and Care Unit. These programs include statewide programs for HIV clinical and social services; the provision of medications for the treatment of HIV and other STDs; and HIV/STD prevention. Applications close May 9.

Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division, Communicable Disease Unit

  • Communicable Disease Unit Surveillance Program Manager – Cheyenne, Wyoming
    • The Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division, Communicable Disease Unit is seeking a Communicable Disease Surveillance Program Manager for Cheyenne. This position will serve as the Communicable Disease (CD) Surveillance Program Manager and senior epidemiologist for the Communicable Disease Unit. This position oversees public health surveillance of four disease areas (HIV, STD, TB, and Viral Hepatitis).  This position will monitor disease trends and utilize surveillance data to coordinate public health activities.  
  • Communicable Disease Epidemiologist – Cheyenne, Wyoming
    • This position will serve as the Communicable Disease AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Coordinator, Wyoming TB Controller, and Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) for the Communicable Disease (CD) Treatment Program.  Assist in outbreak response to ensure the safety of Wyoming residents; by interviewing cases for exposure information, updating news outlets on the progress of outbreak control, analyzing exposure data utilizing epidemiological and statistical methods.

Hepatitis Surveillance Data Analyst – New Orleans, Louisiana

This position is responsible for the data analysis activities for the Louisiana Office of Public Health STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP), in the Hepatitis Surveillance unit. Data utilized for Hepatitis Surveillance activities include Hepatitis laboratory data, Case Report Forms, Provider Report Forms, Linkage to Cure data, investigation data, Medicaid data, and data from related sources and programs. This position will implement and coordinate data analysis activities to monitor and evaluate progress toward meeting hepatitis elimination within the state. All activities must be completed in accordance with the security and confidentiality guidelines required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SHHP.

Assistant Commissioner - Health Department – Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) is seeking an Assistant Commissioner to lead the Bureau of Communicable Disease and Outbreak Control. This senior management position will lead a talented team responsible for communicable disease investigation, outbreak control and emergency preparedness programming. The incumbent will also be responsible for developing and implementing agency wide policies related to health department readiness to respond to public health emergencies. The incumbent will report directly to the Deputy Commissioner for BCHD’s Division of Population Health & Disease Prevention.   

Open Positions – New York State

The New York State Department of Health, in partnership with Health Research, Inc, has various job openings, including some within the AIDS Institute. Please visit this link to learn about their current opportunities.

News Bulletin

Covid funding inaction threatens fragile progress on racial, economic disparities

“Racial and ethnic disparities in Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths are likely to worsen if Congress does not soon approve billions in new pandemic funding.

Public health experts, lawmakers and health officials say the White House’s decision to scale back or suspend programs that provide free testing, treatments and vaccinations will disproportionately affect the tens of millions of uninsured Americans — a majority of whom are people of color.”

Pandemic Funding Is Running Out for Community Health Workers

“Scott is one of the over 650 community health workers the Illinois Department of Public Health hired through local, community-based organizations starting last March. This Pandemic Health Navigator Program workforce was made possible by a nearly $55 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the federal pandemic relief passed by Congress. The team has completed at least 45,000 assistance requests, which were referred to them through contact tracing of covid cases. As the workers have gained the community’s trust, Scott said, new requests have poured in from people who have heard about the catch-all program, which does more than what many people may think of as public health work. But the money is set to run out at the end of June. Workers such as Scott are uncertain about their futures and those of the people they help each day.”

The Biden-Harris 2023 Budget Falls Short in Supporting People With HIV

“The Biden-Harris administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2023. The proposed budget is the most comprehensive presentation of its funding priorities to date. While AIDS United commends the administration for proposing critical funding for several programs and initiatives that impact people living with HIV, there is still work to do to ensure funding is secured for necessary programs for the HIV community.”

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