Policy Updates: Hill Happenings and Administration Activities
Hill Happenings
FY2025 Appropriations
On September 25, lawmakers passed a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) (H.R.9747) that temporarily extends Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels through December 20. The stopgap funding measure averted a government shutdown on the October 1 start of Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) and extends the funding deadline until after the November general elections, buying appropriators more time to reach a deal on the FY2025 spending package while avoiding the larger backdrop of the election. President Biden signed the CR on September 26. Congress is now on recess through November 12.
NASTAD will continue to monitor the congressional appropriations process and advocate for the highest possible funding for HIV, hepatitis, and drug user health programs.
NASTAD Calls on the House of Representatives to Avoid Deep Health Spending Cuts
On September 27, NASTAD joined a coalition of over 135 organizations and called on the House of Representatives to reject deep health spending cuts proposed in the FY2025 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The coalition highlighted the devastating impact that the cuts would impose on state, local, tribal, and territorial public health infrastructure and workforce. In addition to programmatic cuts, the House proposed eliminating funding entirely for the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative and the Global HIV/AIDS programs, the School Health program that works to prevent HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancies among youth, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Injury Prevention and Control Center.
Administration Activities
CDC Awards $10M in PrEP Funding to Five Jurisdictions
The CDC announced a one-time total award of $10 million to five health departments under the Accelerating Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Uptake for Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States (CDC-RFA-PS-24-0047 SUPP), a supplement to CDC’s flagship High-Impact HIV Prevention and Surveillance Programs for Health Departments (CDC-RFA-PS-24-0047) program.
Funded jurisdictions include Baltimore City Health Department, City of Houston, Florida Department of Health, Oklahoma State Health Department, and South Carolina Department of Health; each received $2 million to implement this supplemental program designed to accelerate progress among groups that have not yet been effectively reached, such as Black and Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men, transgender women, and Black cisgender women. For the first time, grantees can also use funds to cover the cost or co-pay of PrEP medications when funds are not available through other existing systems.
HRSA Issues Revised Policy Notice Regarding Waiving RWHAP Core Medical Services Expenditure Requirement
On October 1, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) released the revised Policy Notice (PN) 21-01, Waiver of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Core Medical Services Expenditure Requirement. The revised policy notice describes a new requirement included on the RWHAP Core Medical Services Waiver Attestation Form requiring that the proposed percentages of HIV service dollars allocated to core medical and support services be included on the Attestation Form. Additionally, the revised notice incorporates editorial changes based on Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) stakeholder feedback to increase clarity of the policy notice. Click here to register for the October HAB You Heard webinar on Wednesday, October 16, from 3:00-4:00 PM ET that will feature additional information about the revised policy notice.
HHS Observes National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day
Each year on October 15, the Department of Health and Human Services observes National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) to help address the disproportionate impact of HIV in Hispanic/Latino and Latinx communities, promote HIV testing, and stop HIV stigma. This year’s theme is “Start Treatment. Stick to It. Get Better.” The campaign urges people with HIV to choose one of many treatment options to maintain their health and reach an undetectable viral load to stop the spread of HIV.
NASTAD Calls on Biden Administration to Lift Barriers to Enlisting and Deployment for PLWH
NASTAD joined a coalition of 45 organizations and called on the Biden-Harris Administration to lift the bar on the enlistment and appointment of people living with HIV (PLWH) and clear the remaining barriers to their full military service. The coalition called on the Administration to live up to its commitment of reducing stigma surrounding PLWH and support the full and unencumbered service of PLWH. The removal of categorical bars to deployment and commission of PLWH is grounded in science and supported by legal precedent.
Resources
NASTAD Microsite: PrEP and PEP Assistance Programs
“The table provides a snapshot of what jurisdictions are supporting through their PrEP APs. For more details on what is covered by a jurisdiction's program, view the comprehensive National PrEP/PEP Assistance Program Directory here. PrEP/PEP AP programs not seen in the directory can be added by completing the PrEP/PEP AP questionnaire. NASTAD will continue to update the directory as new PrEP AP programs become operational or as programs change.”
Date: Tuesday November 19th 4:30-6pm EST
Drug Policy Alliance, AIDS United, National Harm Reduction Coalition, NASTAD, Black Harm Reduction Network, and Human Impact Partners will host a webinar exploring the root causes of racial and ethnic disparities in the overdose crisis and offer racially and culturally specific solutions. This event will offer a counterstory to the racial impacts of the overdose crisis and show why an accurate understanding of race and overdose is crucial to save lives.
The Choice Agenda Webinar: Integrating HIV Prevention and PrEP Services in U.S. Correctional Settings
Date: Thursday, October 24 from 9 AM to 10:30 AM ET
“This webinar will explore the integration of HIV prevention and PrEP services in diverse U.S. correctional settings and during the critical period following release. We'll also highlight innovative HIV status-neutral approaches, fostering holistic and comprehensive HIV care, treatment, and prevention services in these settings.”
HepVu: Deeper Look: Hispanic/Latinx Communities and Hepatitis
“Recently, HepVu created a Deeper Look on the impacts of viral hepatitis on Hispanic/Latinx/é communities, examining viral hepatitis data and health disparities among Hispanic/Latinx/é communities. The Deeper Look is available in both English and Spanish, to encourage further accessibility of HepVu's materials.”
JAMA: Trends in Oral and Injectable HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Prescriptions in the US, 2013-2023
“Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral medications is effective in preventing HIV acquisition. Multiple PrEP medications have recently become available in the US, including 3 oral options with comparable safety and efficacy: branded tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) (July 2012), branded tenofovir alafenamide fumarate/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) (October 2019), and generic TDF/FTC (October 2020). A long-acting injectable option (cabotegravir) became available in December 2021. TDF/FTC and cabotegravir have been approved for use by men and women; TAF/FTC has not been approved for females. The costs of branded medications are substantially higher than those of generic PrEP. Information on PrEP prescriptions by medication type is limited. This study examined trends in PrEP medication prescriptions in the US from 2013 to 2023.”
CDC MMWR:
- Risk of Mpox Disease Associated with Intimate and Nonintimate Close Contact Among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Adults: “Among men who have sex with men and transgender people who reported close contact with a person with mpox, condomless receptive anal sex was associated with approximately 5 times the odds of mpox.”
- Notes from the Field: Mpox Cluster Caused by Tecovirimat-Resistant Monkeypox Virus: “CDC and partners identified a new tecovirimat-resistant clade II mpox variant in a patient sample from California; they then used viral genomic surveillance and case investigations to investigate 17 additional cases from five states.”
KFF: LGBTQ+ Health Policy
“This chapter provides an overview of LGBTQ+ people’s identities, experiences with health and health care, and the related health policy landscape. LGBTQ+ people’s identities, experiences with health and health care, and the related health policy landscape.”
HRSA HAB Webinar: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Integrating HIV Primary Care and Behavioral Health
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 2:00-3:00 pm ET
“Join us for an exciting webinar featuring “A Trauma-Informed Approach to Integrating HIV Primary Care and Behavioral Health Care Services intervention,” designed to diagnose mental health issues among people with HIV and reduce stigma associated with accessing mental health care by integrating primary HIV care and behavioral health services to coordinate client diagnoses and treatment. CE credit is available for individuals who attend the live webinar. Click here to learn more about CE credits offered through the IHIP webinar series.”
NHAHC Mini-Conference: Beyond the Regs
Date: Sunday, October 20 – Monday, October 21
Please join the National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition (NHAHC) for a mini conference, Beyond the Regs, in Washington, D.C. prior to HUD’s HOPWA Institute. The workshop topics include braiding streams of funding for housing, prevention and housing models, and a closing housing advocacy panel featuring Rep. Jerry Nadler.
Job Postings
Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and STI – Queens, New York
The NYC Health Department’s Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BHHS) Policy and External Affairs Program seeks a Senior Policy Advisor to lead its health systems policy efforts and support its HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis policy advocacy more broadly. The Senior Policy Advisor will report to the Director of Policy and External Affairs and oversee BHHS’s health systems policy efforts, including monitoring, researching, and responding to Medicaid, Medicare, 340B program, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, New York State of Health Marketplace, New York City HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA), patient assistance programs, and commercial health insurance activity relevant to New Yorkers affected by HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis.
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.
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
'I'm another statistic. I feel let down': How HIV prevention stays out of reach for many
“If I had known, I would have gotten on PrEP,” he said, adding that he had never heard of the drug until after he contracted the virus. McCuller is far from alone in having lacked awareness about PrEP. Gina Bailey Herring, an advanced practice registered nurse and a research nurse practitioner at Emory University, has seen a large number of late adolescents with new HIV diagnoses. “That is telling us that they're not being offered PrEP services in their pediatrician's office,” she said. “There are many ZIP codes in the U.S. where only infectious disease providers are providing PrEP.”
White House Hosts Summit on HIV in Hispanic/Latino Communities
“Last month, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) convened the ¡Adelante! Summit: A White House Convening to Accelerate Our Nation's HIV Response in Hispanic/Latino Communities, bringing together hundreds of in-person and virtual participants to foster multidisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and commitment to strengthen multi-sector efforts addressing the HIV epidemic in Hispanic/Latino communities.”
OIDP Travels to Cherokee Nation in Support of Hepatitis C, HIV, and Syphilis Elimination
“Recently, OIDP’s Dr. Jessica Deerin, PhD, Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor, and Darcy Cherlin, MPH, Public Health Analyst visited Cherokee NationExit Disclaimer in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to learn about the HELP program. In its first year, the program partnered with community programs, including the Cherokee Nation Harm Reduction Program, Peaceful Warrior’s Way, Muskogee Medication Assisted Treatment Clinic, and Tahlequah Men’s Shelter. During the visit, Dr. Deerin and Ms. Cherlin met with Dr. Jorge Mera, Director of Infectious Diseases for Cherokee Nation Health Services, and the HELP team to discuss the results of year one.”
Experts Highlight Alarming Jump in HIV Infections Among Latinos
“While annual HIV surveillance reports released by the CDC in May showed that the number of estimated new HIV infections per year nationwide fell by 19%opens in a new tab or window from 2010 through 2022, there was a 12% increase in infections among Latino people, reported Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MPH, of the Institute for Policy Solutions at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., and co-authors. In comparison, the estimated number of new HIV infections per year decreased by 29% among Black people and by 25% among white people over this time period, they wrote in a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicineopens in a new tab or window.”