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.
Administration Activities
HHS Issues RFI to Inform 2026-2030 National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan
On October 7, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a request for information (RFI) soliciting feedback from stakeholders regarding the development of the 2026-2030 National HIV/AIDS Strategy, Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, Vaccines National Strategic Plan for the United States, and Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States. The strategic plans serve as national roadmaps to guide efforts to address HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and viral hepatitis, and to improve and enhance the development and use of vaccines in the United States. Comments are due by December 6, 2024.
CMS Issues National Coverage Determination to Expand PrEP Access for Medicare Beneficiaries
On September 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a national coverage determination (NCD) for all PrEP formulations under Medicare Part B. The NCD includes up to eight individual HIV counseling visits every 12 months, up to eight HIV screening tests every 12 months, and a single screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) as covered services. Medicare beneficiaries can now be screened and initiate PrEP for HIV at no-cost under Part B. Advocates welcomed the expanded PrEP coverage under Medicare Part B, but some expressed concern over potential delays in filling prescriptions as CMS shifts PrEP coverage from Part D to Part B.
Resources
NASTAD: Managing Power Dynamics within the Coalition
NASTAD is pleased to present this toolkit to support viral hepatitis health department programs in shifting power equitably within coalitions focused on viral hepatitis elimination. The toolkit outlines different coalition structures and how viral hepatitis programs can equitably share power with community organizations, people with lived experience, and advocates. Additional resources are provided on conflict resolution and developing a power analysis to examine power dynamics within the coalition.
Completed with support from SAMHSA and the Opioid Response Network, this document presents first-hand narratives, research, and recommendations to understand and explore housing provision as a comprehensive health and overdose prevention strategy. The resource can be used as a series of topic-specific guidance documents or as an overview of person-centered approaches to housing, drug user health, and HIV care.
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
Gilead strikes licensing deals with 6 generics makers to boost access to long-acting HIV PrEP med
“Gilead Sciences is wasting no time in promoting worldwide access to its twice-yearly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) HIV candidate lenacapavir. Before filing for global regulatory approvals, the company has lined up six generics manufacturers to make and sell the drug in 120 high-incidence, resource-limited countries through voluntary license agreements. Through the nonexclusive, royalty-free license agreements, the generics companies can make and sell lenacapavir under its current indication—to treat heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug-resistant HIV—and as a PrEP medicine after appropriate regulatory approvals.”
Vance twists Trump’s history on ObamaCare
“Vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) falsely claimed during Tuesday’s debate that former President Trump “saved” the Affordable Care Act, the latest attempt by Vance and Trump to rewrite the GOP presidential nominee’s record…The debate was not the first attempt by either man on the Republican ticket to whitewash Trump’s record on health care. In interviews and even during the presidential debate, Vance and Trump have tried to depict Trump as the law’s selfless savior despite his efforts to repeal the law in office.”
Trump backs off proposal to slash prescription drug prices by linking them to foreign countries
“Former President Trump is backing off his support for a controversial drug pricing plan that struck fear into the hearts of pharmaceutical executives during his first term. Trump in 2020 signed an executive order to make sure that Medicare didn’t pay more for prescription drugs than other developed countries. The aggressive policy could have slashed more than $10 billion per year from the pharmaceutical industry’s bottom line. The Biden administration ultimately rescinded the policy following a court order that stopped the program from going into effect.”