UPDATED: National HIV/AIDS Strategy

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

One of the signature domestic policy accomplishments under the Presidency of Barack Obama was the first-ever unveiling of a National HIV/AIDS Strategy in the United States. It might have been decades overdue, but it represented a significant paradigm shift in how public health addressed HIV in this country. On World AIDS Day 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. renewed the commitment made by his former boss with the release of the updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States 2022-2025. The news was received by the HIV community with applause.

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Upon issuing the Proclamation on World AIDS Day, 2021, President Biden referenced the updated Strategy by saying: 

"My Administration remains steadfast in our efforts to end the HIV epidemic, confront systems and policies that perpetuate entrenched health inequities, and build a healthier world for all people.  Earlier this year, I reinstated the White House Office of National AIDS Policy to coordinate our efforts to reduce the number of HIV infections across our Nation.  This week, my Administration is releasing an updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy to decrease health inequities in new diagnoses and improve access to comprehensive, evidence-based HIV-prevention tools. This updated strategy will make equity a cornerstone of our response and bring a whole-of-government approach to fighting HIV.

My budget request includes $670 million to support the Department of Health and Human Services’ Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative — to reduce HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths.  My Administration has also strengthened the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS by adding members from diverse backgrounds who bring the knowledge and expertise needed to further our Nation’s HIV response."[1]

According to the updated Strategy, it sets forth bold targets for ending the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030, including a 75% reduction in new HIV infections by 2025 and a 90% reduction by 2030.[2] It also aligns with the ongoing Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) in the United States.

The updated Strategy includes four pillars. They include preventing new HIV infections, improving HIV-related health outcomes of people living with HIV, reducing HIV-related disparities and health inequities, and achieving integrated, coordinated efforts that address the HIV epidemic among all partners and interested parties.[3]

Of particular interest to the ADAP Advocacy Association is addressing health disparities, namely because Black and Hispanic men are being left behind on the declining HIV rates in the United States.[4] The racial and ethnic health disparities are even more evident among men who have sex with men (MSM), according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).[5]

The CDC's Vital Signs demonstrates the challenges with ongoing racial/ethnic differences in knowledge of status and HIV prevention and treatment outcomes among gay and bisexual men. Approximately one in five (1:5) Hispanic/Latinos and Black/African Americans are unaware of their status. Among gay and bisexual men who could benefit from PrEP, communities of color lag behind their white peers, and they also have lower rates of viral suppression. Additionally, HIV-related stigma disproportionate impacts Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men.[6]

Equally important is the updated Strategy emphasizing the importance of the ‘Undetectable equals Untransmissible’ message around HIV treatment as prevention. It reads: "Evidence has definitively shown that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load by taking HIV medication as directed will not sexually transmit the virus to an HIV-negative partner." 

The ADAP Advocacy Association is among the 1,053 organizations from 105 countries have signed on to share the U=U message. Doing so has complemented our organization's efforts around promoting HIV medication adherence. Much work remains ahead of us, but it just got a bit easier with the updated Strategy.

The updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy is available online here.

[1] White House, The (2021, November 30). A Proclamation on World AIDS Day, 2021. Retrieved online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/30/a-proclamation-on-world-aids-day-2021/
[2] White House, The (2021, December 1). National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2022–2025. Retrieved online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/National-HIV-AIDS-Strategy.pdf?utm_campaign=wp_the_health_202&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_health202
[3] White House, The (2021, December 1). National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2022–2025. Retrieved online at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/National-HIV-AIDS-Strategy.pdf?utm_campaign=wp_the_health_202&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_health202
[4] Firth, Shannon (2021, November 30). Black, Hispanic Men Left Behind on Declining HIV Rates in the U.S.. MedPage Today. Retrieved online at https://www.medpagetoday.com/hivaids/hivaids/95943?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2021-12-01&eun=g1964022d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Headlines%20Top%20Cat%20HeC%20%202021-12-01&utm_term=NL_Daily_DHE_dual-gmail-definition
[5] Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (November 2021). Vital Signs - HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved online at https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hivgaybimen/index.html
[6] Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (November 2021). Vital Signs - HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved online at https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hivgaybimen/index.html

Disclaimer: Guest blogs do not necessarily reflect the views of the ADAP Advocacy Association, but rather they provide a neutral platform whereby the author serves to promote open, honest discussion about public health-related issues and updates.  

Closing the Book on 2017

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

This year, 2017, marked the ADAP Advocacy Association's 10th Anniversary, and it certainly wasn't without new accomplishments by our efforts, as well as plenty of political fireworks in Washington. It is clear that the uncertainty present at the start of the year remains as this year comes to a close. In fact, World AIDS Day — often viewed as an opportunity to reflect and grow — was widely tempered by the uncertainly being perpetuated by the man occupying the White House. Closing the book on 2017 is bitter sweet!

Our World AIDS Day Message to President Donald J. Trump sums up the "bitter" part of that statement. It really needs no further commentary, at this time.

But the year wasn't without the "sweet" moments, and that much should be celebrated! We were proud to partner with the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV/AIDS to educate social workers and other key stakeholders about some key issues impacting our community. They included experts presenting on various issues, such as patient assistance programs, housing, transgender health, and substance abuse. The webinar archives are available online.

Our 10th Annual Conference lived up to its reputation as being the premier event for people living with HIV/AIDS concerned about the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs. With one of our most diverse line-up of conference speakers, it certainly challenged conference attendees to think outside of the box in the Age of Trump! This year we had advocates from 23 states in attendance, while also funding 50 scholarships!

In 2017, improving access to care among transgender men & women living with HIV/AIDS under Ryan White/ADAPs was one of our focus areas. To that end, we made a available a series of important resources — including an infographic, policy white paper, and Twitter chat. We were proud to partner with RAD Remedy to accomplish these important tasks. We applauded RAD Remedy earlier this year when they issued their National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health.

Of course, there was plenty of other advocacy activities throughout the year. They can be viewed on our website at adapadvocacyassociation.org. The New Year will be upon us rather quickly, and we look forward to continuing our work with you.

A World AIDS Day Message to President Donald J. Trump

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

It has been less than one year since Donald J. Trump was sworn into office as the 45th President of the United States. In that short period of time, Trump has wreaked havoc in the hearts and minds of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States because he has continually demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the public health system designed to help them. The hashtag #SaveOurCare has come to symbolize the very real concerns felt by people living with HIV/AIDS (and many others) in this country. However, World AIDS Day provides a unique opportunity to send a stern message to him that it will not be tolerated by the 1.1 million people in the United States living with HIV/AIDS.

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Aside from the insistence on repealing the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare (which certainly has its share of problems), Trump has sought to undermine the marketplace exchanges. These exchanges have proved vitally important to people living with HIV/AIDS by linking them to health insurance purchased via the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), as well as other means. Aside from being more cost effective than direct purchase options, it also affords people living with HIV/AIDS more supports and services. Why would he want to take that away from us?

At numerous times during the debate over the healthcare law, it was even suggested that the protections for pre-existing conditions be rolled back to the pre-Obamacare era. This would probably be one of the single most detrimental changes in healthcare-related public policy for this already underserved population. According to HIV.gov, "Insurers also are prohibited from cancelling or rescinding coverage because of mistakes made on an application, and can no longer impose lifetime caps on insurance benefits."[1] People living with HIV/AIDS already face a disproportionate share of discrimination and stigma without having to worry about being denied access to care and treatment. Why would he want to take that away from us?

Trump has also sought to undermine Medicaid, which is one of the most troubling aspects of his so-called healthcare reform agenda. Again, according to HIV.gov, "Medicaid is the largest payer for HIV care in the United States, and the expansion of Medicaid to low-income childless adults is particularly important for many gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) who were previously ineligible for Medicaid, and yet remain the population most affected by the HIV epidemic."[2] In fact, Medicaid serves as a lifeline for many of our peers. Why would he want to take that away from us?

To make matters worse, Trump's proposed budget was riddled with cuts to the public health safety net on numerous fronts. Our blog earlier this year, "Trump's Proposed Federal Budget Puts Bullseye on People Living with HIV/AIDS (and many other chronic conditions)," spelled out these problematic proposed cuts. Although his budget flat-funded ADAPs, it called for draconian funding cuts to numerous federal programs specifically designed to assist people living with HIV/AIDS (including some authorized under the very same Ryan White).[3] Why would he want to take that away from us?

Most recently, Trump's plan to address the opioid epidemic in this country (which we applaud) was also accompanied by a significant zinger against the HIV/AIDS community. The plan came with no new money to fund the national emergency response, rather seeking to take the needed funding from existing programs. In other words, robbing Peter to pay Paul. Drew Gibson's op-ed laid out a stinging indictment against the possibility of taking money away from serving people living with HIV/AIDS to fund this initiative.[4] Why would he want to take that away from us?

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On World AIDS Day, let us collectively send a message to our government that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We have lost too many lives...we have made so much progress...and we are so close to ending the epidemic! Our message is a simple one: Save Our Care!

__________

[1] HIV.gov. (2017, January 31). The Affordable Care Act and HIV/AIDS. United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/the-affordable-care-act-and-hiv-aids.

[2] HIV.gov. (2017, January 31). The Affordable Care Act and HIV/AIDS. United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/the-affordable-care-act-and-hiv-aids.

[3] ADAP Blog. (2017, May 25). Trump's Proposed Federal Budget Puts Bullseye on People Living with HIV/AIDS (and many other chronic conditions). ADAP Advocacy Association. Retrieved from http://adapadvocacyassociation.blogspot.com/2017/05/trumps-proposed-federal-budget-puts.html.

[4] Gibson, Drew. (2017, October 31). President Trump's Opioid Response Could Reduce Ryan White HIV/AIDS Funds by $21 Million. TheBody.com. Retrieved from: http://www.thebody.com/content/80551/president-trumps-opioid-response-could-reduce-ryan.html?ic=tbhtrump.