Important Happenings in HIV/Health Policy

Important Happenings in HIV/Health Policy

Week ending: April 12, 2019
By: Sable K. Nelson

HIV Rates Are Rising Across the American South in States That Didn’t Expand Medicaid

Dramatically reducing HIV infections in the next decade will prove very difficult—and may be impossible with cuts to Medicaid or the repeal of the ACA. For more information, READ.

Kaiser Family Foundation Releases State Fact Sheets Showing How Many Uninsured Adults in Non-Expansion States Would Become Eligible for Medicaid if Their States Adopted the ACA Medicaid Expansion

New KFF state fact sheets provide details on the number and characteristics of the 4.4 million uninsured adults who would become eligible for Medicaid if the remaining non-expansion states were to expand their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act. The fact sheets for each state are accessible via an interactive map of the U.S. and display a range of data, including:

  • The number and the share of the uninsured who would become eligible, where they are within each state and how states’ current Medicaid eligibility levels compare to the ACA level of 138% of poverty ($17,236 for an individual in 2019).
  • Work status and demographic data about those who would be eligible for Medicaid.
  • The federal and state share of costs for Medicaid expansion and for each state’s current Medicaid program.

For more information, READ.

 

O’Neil Institute Releases a Quick Take on the US STI Crisis

This Quick Take document provides an overview of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) crisis in the United States. The number of STIs is rising: From 2013-2017, syphilis increased 80%, gonorrhea increased 67%, and chlamydia increased 22%. The document describes the disproportionate burden of STIs for different populations and by geography. It also discusses the importance of sexual health and the need for increased investment and innovation in STI prevention, care, and treatment. For more information, READ.

 

Virtual Listening Sessions: Opportunities to Inform Development of an STD Federal Action Plan – May 9, 2019

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) will host a virtual listening session to gather public input to inform the development of a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Federal Action Plan.

Register for Listening Sessions
Your thoughts and recommendations are important, so HHS is offering listening sessions to provide the opportunity for people from across the United States to participate.  Please consider joining one of these listening sessions.  To do so, please register through the links below:
• Thursday, May 9, 2019:  Virtual Listening Virtual Listening Session from 3:00—5:00 pm (ET). Register here.

Also Share Your Comments in Writing
In addition, HHS will soon publish a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register to solicit written comments and recommendations for the STD Federal Action Plan that is being developed.  As soon as the RFI is published, HHS will post a link to it as well as information about the deadline for input.

 

What You Can Do

TAKE ACTION: It is very important that our elected officials hear from us to protect federal funding for HIV prevention and care. Speak truth to power by sharing your personal stories with your elected officials. It is vitally important to meet with your federal elected officials when they are at home. If we don’t support and advocate for HIV funding and programs, who will?  Our movement cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. Your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives need to hear from you.

 

What NMAC is Doing About It

  • NMAC remains vigilant in its advocacy to protect FY20 government funding and the existence of the social safety net.
  • NMAC is working in coalition to defend the right of people living with HIV to serve in the US military.