HIV/AIDS Fireside Chat Retreat in Tampa Tackles Pressing Issues

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

The ADAP Advocacy Association hosted an HIV/AIDS "Fireside Chat" retreat in Tampa, FL among key stakeholder groups to discuss pertinent issues facing people living with HIV/AIDS and/or viral hepatitis. The Fireside Chat took place on Thursday, May 17th, and Friday, May 18th. Although there was no fireplace in the room, there was plenty of heat generated by the fiery give-and-take.

Photo Source: Getty Images

The Fireside Chat included a series of three moderated white-board style discussions about the following issues:

• 340B Drug Pricing Program
• Opioid Epidemic & Impact on HIV
• Ryan White Program & Underserved Communities

Each of the white board discussions was facilitated by a recognized content expert followed by an in-depth dialogue among the retreat attendees. The discussions certainly couldn't be characterized as a Kumbaya, since vastly different perspectives were seated in the room. Rather the discussions were designed to capture key observations, suggestions, and thoughts about how best to address the challenges being discussed at the Fireside Chat.

The ADAP Advocacy Association is pleased to share the following brief recap of the Fireside Chat.

340B Drug Pricing Program:

The discussion on the 340B Drug Pricing Program was facilitated by Jeffrey R. Lewis, President & CEO of the Legacy Health Endowment based in Turlock, CA. Lewis also serves as co-chair of the newly-minted national commission taking a thorough and candid review of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and making specific recommendations to Congress on how and in what ways the program should be strengthened. The discussion focused on why the program is important to the Ryan White Program and other covered entities, such as hemophiliac clinics and community health centers. Also discussed were the “tough choices” to reform the program, as well as the “opportunities” to expand the program (i.e., Corrections), and why?

The following materials were shared with retreat attendees:

• Overview of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)
• Consequences of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, by Sunita Desai, Ph.D., and J. Michael McWilliams, M.D., Ph.D.
• Market Distortions from the 340B Drug Pricing Program, by Adam J. Fein, PhD
• The Ugly Co-Pay Surprise, infographic by the Alliance for Patient Access
• Community Access National Network Tackles Challenges Facing the 340B Drug Pricing Program 

The ADAP Advocacy Association would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Jeffrey R. Lewis for facilitating this important discussion.

Opioid Epidemic & Impact on HIV:

The discussion about the ongoing intersection between the opioid epidemic and HIV was facilitated by David Fawcett PhD, LCSW. It focused on opioids among at-risk populations, but also the growing crystal methamphetamine use. Also discussed were health disparities and access to care, and harm reduction strategies — such as Syringe Exchange Programs ("SEPs") and medication assisted programs.

The following materials were shared with retreat attendees:

• Opioid Fact Sheet, by David Fawcett, Ph.D., LCSW
• Meth, the Other Epidemic, Poses a Real Risk for HIV, by Dr. David Fawcett
• Body & Soul: Combatting the Dual Epidemic of HIV-Infection and Substance Abuse, webinar with Dr. David Fawcett)

The ADAP Advocacy Association would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Dr. David Fawcett for facilitating this important discussion.

Ryan White Program & Underserved Communities (i.e., women, LGBT, formerly incarcerated, undocumented immigrants, etc.):

The discussion about underserved communities served (or potentially served) by the Ryan White Program was facilitated by Jeffrey S. Crowley, Program Director at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center. It focused on the existing structure of the Ryan White Program and the program's essential roles, as well as evidence for the program’s success. Important questions raised included what are structural changes that could help the program to seize current or future opportunities to increase engagement in care and viral suppression, and should the program consider new roles (i.e. financing and delivering PrEP or financing HCV treatment for mono-infected individuals), among others.

The following materials were shared with retreat attendees:

• Protecting and Advancing HIV Public Health Gains During Health System Reform, by Jeffrey S. Crowley, Sean Bland, and Connie Garner
• HIV Prevention: Assessing Our Progress and Charting a Future Direction, by Jeffrey S. Crowley and Sean E. Bland
• Healthcare Coverage for HIV Provider Visits Before and After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, Barry SA et al
• Affordable Care Act Qualified Health Plan Coverage: Association With Improved HIV Viral Suppression for AIDS Drug Assistance Program Clients in a Medicaid Nonexpansion State, by McManus KA et al
• Editorial Commentary: Affordable Care Act, Medicaid Expansion … or Not: Ryan White Care Act Remains Essential for Access and Equity, by Eaton EF and Mugavero MJ

The ADAP Advocacy Association would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Jeffrey S. Crowley for facilitating this important discussion.

Additional Fireside Chats are planned in 2018.