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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. Although lawmakers approved higher discretionary funding levels for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau, some health programs only received marginal gains in the spending omnibus. NASTAD and The Partnership to End HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis issued a statement applauding lawmakers for resolving the budget impasse and passing a spending omnibus, but also call on Congress and the Administration to substantially invest in HIV, STD, and hepatitis programs in FY2023.

The Biden Administration announced that it would issue the FY2023 Executive Budget Request to Congress on March 28, providing Democrats a foundation for upcoming spending negotiations. NASTAD is monitoring the FY2023 appropriations process and will advocate for the highest possible funding levels on behalf of HIV and hepatitis programs. 

Senate Confirms Shalanda Young to Lead OMB 

On March 15, the Senate confirmed Shalanda Young to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with bipartisan support (61-36). As the Director of OMB, Young will play a key role in developing the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy priorities and advancing them through the budget and appropriations process. Young served as Acting OMB Director since October of 2021, after President Biden’s original nominee did not secure enough votes to achieve Senate confirmation and withdrew their nomination. Director Young made history by becoming the first Black woman to lead the OMB.

Administration Activities 

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is observed on the first day of Spring each year. This observance recognizes the impact of HIV among Native people (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) and highlights HIV efforts in communities around the country. The awareness day is an opportunity to share information about HIV and its impact in the Native community; provide accessible testing options and HIV counseling; and help decrease the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. The theme for 2022 is “Reflection. Celebration. Rejuvenation.” in celebration of the resilience of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and to begin healing and rejuvenation. The National Native HIV Network (NNHN), in conjunction with the Indian Health Service (IHS) National HIV/AIDS Program, leads efforts for observing NNHAAD.  

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) is observed each year on April 10 to educate the public about the impact of HIV on young people. The CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) updated the NYHAAD digital toolkit to support schools with guidance and resources for the prevention of HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy. Quality, school-based health education is critical for adolescents to learn the information and skills they need to prevent HIV and other STDs. According to CDC data, 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses occurs in young people ages 13-24. 

Resources 

HIV.Gov Blog: Journal Summarizes Results of Ryan White end+disparities ECHO Collaborative 

“A journal article summarizes the recently-concluded work of an HRSA-funded quality improvement learning collaborative, which documented and focused on improving viral suppression rate improvements among four groups hit hardest by HIV: men who have sex with men of color, Black/African American and Latina women, youth aged 13 to 24 years, and transgender people. The report, Reducing Disparities: A Virtual Quality Improvement Collaborative Resulted in Better Health Outcomes for 4 Target Populations Disproportionately Affected by HIV , is in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (March/April 2022 edition).” 

KFF Report: Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment Policies as of January 2022: Findings from a 50-State Survey 

”As states plan for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the resumption of eligibility redeterminations and disenrollments when the continuous Medicaid enrollment requirement is lifted could lead to coverage disruptions and losses, according to a new KFF 50-state survey. The requirement, a condition of states receiving enhanced federal Medicaid funding during the pandemic, has helped drive Medicaid and CHIP enrollment to a record 85 million people…But with the public health emergency expected to expire in the coming months, the new survey of state Medicaid and CHIP officials finds that many state Medicaid programs still have not made key decisions about how to handle the resumption of eligibility redeterminations that will lead to the disenrollment of people who are no longer eligible and those who are eligible but do not complete renewal paperwork.” 

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 the incidence of infectious diseases and other complications of injection drug use through two components. Two Pre-Application Technical Assistance webinars will take place on March 16, 2022, and March 30, 2022, from 3-5 pm EST to provide potential applicants the opportunity to hear an overview of this NOFO and to ask CDC representatives specific questions related to it. Click here to read a blog post from the Director of the Division of Viral Hepatitis on the new NOFO.

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

This NOFO will support the 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) Policy and Advocacy Summit 

Please join HAP for the second session in the 2022 Viral Hepatitis Policy & Advocacy Summit, Hepatitis & Maternal/Child Health, on Thursday, March 24 from 1 – 3 pm ET! Fully realizing the country's viral hepatitis elimination goals requires better incorporation of screening, treatment, and prevention efforts into existing maternal and child health practices. Challenges still exist around preventing perinatal and other familial transmissions of viral hepatitis. This session will feature discussions on the current landscapes of perinatal transmission of HBV and HCV, and of the vaccine infrastructure in the U.S. 

AAHIVM Academy Council for Racial Equity: Minority Student Open 

Date: March 30 from 2:00 – 4:30 pm ET 

The American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) Academy Council for Racial Equity is hosting a virtual conference for health-related students and trainees who are people of color and members of minority communities. This free event features a plenary speaker, an interdisciplinary panel discussion, and breakout sessions that will inspire and inform minority students and trainees to consider a health professions career in HIV care, policy or research. The event is virtual, free and open to all.

Job Postings 

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.

HIV/STI Prevention Program Manager – Portland, OR 

Clark County Public Health’s (CCPH) mission is to work with others to protect and improve the health of all people in Clark County. CCPH’s Communicable Disease program supports statewide surveillance and investigation efforts at the county level for all of Washington State’s notifiable conditions, including planning and response for public health emergencies involving communicable disease. This is an exempt management position and reports directly to the Investigation and Response Program Manager III. Assignments are received with little direction and require initiative and independent judgment. This position will work collaboratively or at times takes direction from the Health Officer who has statutory responsibility for communicable disease control. 

STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program, Louisiana Health Hub 

  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 the 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 the 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 chaos fueled another public health crisis: STDs 

“Sexual health experts and government officials are warning that without federal action, millions of Americans could face severe, even fatal, consequences if infections go untested and untreated.” 

Income May Be the Biggest Determinant of Whether Women Stay on PrEP 

“Most women discontinue HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but women earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level are more likely to do so, according to data presented at the 2022 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. 

The study comes on the heels of new epidemiological data showing that the lifetime risk of acquiring HIV is 1 in 309 for women in the United States overall but 1 in 75 for Black women. Meanwhile, fewer than 1 in 10 women who could benefit from PrEP are taking it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other data presented at the conference showed that, given a choice, African women preferred a vaginal ring over oral pills for PrEP.” 

Biden picks Ashish Jha as new Covid-19 czar 

“President Joe Biden announced Thursday that Ashish Jha will be the next White House Covid-19 response coordinator, installing a well-known public health commentator on the administration’s pandemic team. Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, has been a regular guest across cable and network news throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. He will replace Jeffrey Zients, who has headed the Biden administration’s coronavirus response since January 2021 and will return to private life in April.” 

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