Housing=Healthcare

By: Kathie Hiers, President & CEO, AIDS Alabama

What is the greatest unmet need for people living with HIV (PLWH)? Medical care and medications?  Transportation? Food and nutritional needs? Many, many surveys and research findings provide very a different answer: housing. When you think about it, the need for safe, decent, affordable housing is a no brainer. How can you and your family possibly succeed in medical care or in the workplace or any place else without a place to lay your head, to keep your meds, and to protect your children? I would go so far as to say housing = healthcare!

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2015 Out of Reach Report, not a single state in our nation offers a one-room apartment that a person working full time and making minimum wage can afford. In fact, federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009 while rents have risen in almost all metropolitan areas. For PLWH, the need for housing assistance is far too commonplace. According to the National AIDS Housing Coalition, at any given time about 50% of 1.2 million PLWH in our country experience homelessness or housing instability. Additionally, research indicates that people who are unstably housed or homeless have HIV rates up to 16 times as high as persons in stable housing. Unfortunately the need substantially outstrips the resources. But here’s the bottom line: housing for PLWH improves medical outcomes, reduces new transmissions through a reduction in risky behaviors, and provides cost savings. So much research exists to confirm these results that AIDS and Behavior in 2007 dedicated an entire issue to illustrate the findings.

Photo Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition

The only HIV-specific funding source from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the legislation known as Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Although HOPWA is relatively small within the HUD portfolio at about $335 million, the program has been extraordinarily effective and well rated, enjoying bipartisan support. Research from New York City shows that clients assisted by HOPWA collectively have a viral load suppression of about 73%, more than double the national average of about 30%. HOPWA was created in 1992 to address the housing and service needs of PLWH. Currently, however, the statutory funding distribution methodology is based on cumulative AIDS cases and counts more deceased cases (over 650,000) than living cases. On top of the formula distribution (don’t forget: based on deceased people and AIDS only), urban areas with higher-than-national averages also receive 25% of the formula funds as a bonus, based on three-year AIDS incidence, providing disproportionate funding to these jurisdictions. As a result of this antiquated methodology, I once saw the Director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Housing, David Vos, tell a group of advocates that the per-case funding can range from $200 to $10,000. Should funding this important really be based on deceased cases and distributed in a roller coaster ride of injustice?

The National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) and many other HIV organizations have been advocating for an update to this formula distribution for many years in an effort to distribute the resources in a way that better reflects the current HIV epidemic. Both the Obama Administration and HUD are working in concert with NAHC and elected officials to promote modernization that would include the following changes:

• A shift from cumulative AIDS to living HIV/AIDS, a change that occurred within the Ryan White legislation in 2009;
• The inclusion of an area’s housing costs and poverty rates as formula factors; and
• A gradual implementation over a five-year period to include a provision to cap annual losses at 5% and gains at 10% (U. S. Congress, House, H.R. 3700 and H. R. 4707; and Senate, S. 2668).

These changes would provide substantial additional resources to many rural areas, small to mid-sized cities, and states, based on the jurisdiction’s burden of cases, Fair Market Rent, and poverty index.

Although funding to support stable housing may never fully meet the needs of PLWH, advocates must continue to elevate this topic and to integrate housing needs into other HIV resources, such and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and other programs within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Innovative collaborations between branches of government and funding opportunities that combine structural interventions, such as housing, with other medical and supportive services could only help to alleviate barriers to good health caused by a lack of housing for PLWH.

AIDS Alabama provides an innovative approach to the use of our state HOPWA funds. Through partnerships with all of the AIDS Service Organizations, AIDS Alabama makes HOPWA rental assistance and supportive services available in all 67 counties of the state. We believe that housing is a human right and that people in need should have access to assistance no matter what zip code they call home. But we don’t stop with HOPWA! Our agency has continued to develop HIV-specific housing across the state and in the Birmingham area that we can make affordable to our clients.  AIDS Alabama is extremely active in our local Continuum of Care to serve the area’s homeless population. We believe in HUD’s Housing First model, which gets people into safe housing and then allows us to assess and address other needs that will keep our new residents healthy and independent.  Through these homeless funds we offer substance use treatment and mental health services for our residents. We are able to access Shelter Plus Care vouchers, which work like Section 8 assistance for people with disabilities. We work especially hard to serve the chronically homeless and to get them into care. In order to do that, we provide about 20,000 legs of transportation to medical appointments each year. We are extremely excited about our newest project that will begin in October 2016, which will target young, homeless LGBTQ populations. And, of course, case management services are available to all of our clients.  Navigating the worlds of health care, housing, and insurance is hard for anyone!

At AIDS Alabama our employees, residents, and clients living with HIV play a critical role in making sure that we remember who we serve and that we serve in the most efficient and helpful way possible. Persons living with HIV must have meaningful involvement in shaping everything that we do as an agency. Hopefully one day soon we can end this epidemic in the United States.  Until that happy day we will work together toward this goal…and make sure that everyone has a place to call home while we do this work!

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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. 

Restricted Access to Care under Insurance Network Narrowing

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

One community that the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") has served particularly well is people living with HIV/AIDS. The law has led to the elimination of pre-existing condition barriers, lifetime limits on the amounts insurers have to pay, and the prescription drug “donut hole” under Medicare Part D, to name only a few. Expanded screening for HIV-infection is also an important feature of the law. That said, new barriers now face many people living with HIV/AIDS trying to access care and treatment. Among the most troubling is insurance network narrowing.

The ADAP Advocacy Association hosted a roundtable discussion on the "Restricted Access to Care under Insurance Network Narrowing" in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this month. The practice of narrowing networks is a cost-savings tool utilized by insurers, but patients find fewer doctors and hospitals in their network...or pay more to use a provider of choice. The practice has taken on a life of its own under the ACA.[1]

Photo Source: California Broker

The issue isn't going away, which is prompting advocates to combat it. The forum in Birmingham included an in-depth policy discussion on insurance network narrowing with the following panelists:

• David Poole, Legislative Affairs, AIDS Healthcare Foundation
• Wendi Clifton, President, WL Clifton Political Consulting
• John Dunnam, Positive Leadership Council, AIDS Alabama
• William Arnold, President & CEO, Community Access National Network

L-R: B. Arnold, J. Dunnam, W. Clifton, and D. Poole

One consistent theme emerging is consumer choice -- including among people living with HIV/AIDS -- is indeed "narrowing." In Georgia, numerous changes to the marketplace plans have resulted in no Platinum Plans being offered...and costs are increasingly being shifted to the patient. One problem for patients, such cost-containment tactics yield a "push-pull" paradigm with rising drug costs versus insurance carriers mitigating risk. The end result is the same, and that is both contribute to access to care and treatment barriers.

For example, Grady Health System in Georgia provides over $200 million in indigent care because over half the population experience insurance-related barriers. This figure is problematic for people living with HIV/AIDS considering that the Peach State is one of the leading states in new HIV infections.

Patients in Florida are experiencing similar challenges, too. Summarized David Poole, Director of Legislative Affairs for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, "Narrow networks are forcing Floridians to access providers who they do not know, do not have an existing trusting relationship and often times are not experienced as HIV providers. The treatments have become highly effective and are much more simple regimens but the disease state remains very complex."

The problem with insurance network narrowing is compounded by the "balance billing" practice by insurers. Healthcare.gov characterizes balance billing as, "When a provider bills you for the difference between the provider’s charge and the allowed amount."[2]

(Editor's Note: Additional barriers to care and treatment were outlined in our previous blog, "Future of ADAP in Medicaid Non-Expansion States")

As the ACA continues to unfold, growing pains will certainly remain and none probably more frustrating than insurance network narrowing. People living with HIV/AIDS -- just like any patient -- should be afforded the opportunity to visit the provider of their choice, especially for specialty services such as infectious disease care and treatment.

The ADAP Regional Summit in Birmingham, Alabama was held in partnership with the AIDS Alabama, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Community Access National Network (CANN). To learn more, visit http://adapadvocacyassociation.org/events.html#arsba.

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[1] Ableson, Reed, The New York Times, "More Insured, but the Choices Are Narrowing,"May 12, 2014; last viewed online at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/business/more-insured-but-the-choices-are-narrowing.html?_r=0. 

[2] Healthcare.gov, "Balance Billing," 

Future of ADAP in Medicaid Non-Expansion States

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

On April 15th, access to care and treatment took center stage in Birmingham, Alabama as the ADAP Advocacy Association hosted a roundtable discussion on the "Future of ADAP in Medicaid Non-Expansion States." It is an issue with deep rooted concerns among people living with HIV/AIDS, especially since the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") was designed to expand both. According to Families USA, there are currently 19 non-expansion states...mostly situated in the South, and rural states in other parts of the country.

Photo Source: Families USA

One of the most troubling unintended consequences of the ACA has been exacerbated health disparities in the South, evidenced by only three southern states having expanded their Medicaid programs (Arkansas, Louisiana, and West Virginia).  Yet the South is arguably the area of the country that needs greater access to care and treatment, and not less.

The forum included perspectives from Alabama, and Florida -- both Medicaid non-expansion states. At issue was navigating how to advocate around the new ACA-led healthcare world increasingly driven by an insurance model, rather than a service-delivery model. For example, new barriers have emerged preventing some people living with HIV/AIDS from obtaining medications that may have been previously more accessible to them.

Aside from Alabama and Florida, other non-expansion states represented at the forum included Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The forum included an in-depth policy discussion with the following panelists:

• Joey Wynn, Community Relations Director, EmpowerU
• Michael J. Mugavero, MD, MHSc, Professor of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Alex Smith, Director of Policy and Advocacy, AIDS Alabama
• Warren Dates, Sr. Peer Linkage Specialist, Alabama Department of Public Health

L-R: A. Smith, Dr. M. Mugavero, W. Dates, and J. Wynn

Florida has learned to leverage its existing programmatic structure and wrap-around services under Ryan White to minimize clients falling through the cracks. In many cases, clients have experienced fewer barriers to care and treatment by receiving their medications via the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), as compared to what is unfolding in some Medicaid expansion states. Florida could very well be the exception, though.

In Alabama -- where Blue Cross Blue Shield yields a monopoly on the state's insurance market -- efforts continue to focus on prioritizing services for people living with HIV/AIDS. On a positive note, ADAP waiting lists have been completed eliminated and client advocacy has become more specialized by focusing on related issues (i.e., housing and transportation).

In addition, Alabama’s Insurance Assistance Program (AIAP) was launched in 2015, providing cost- effective health insurance to eligible clients. This approach to linking clients to timely, appropriate care and treatment is paying dividends with outcomes, too. According to the State of Alabama AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Quarterly Report, "The majority of clients actively served by ADAP reported viral suppression (i.e., viral load ≤ 200 copies/mL) at the last viral load test collected during the preceding 12 months. However, the level of viral suppression varied by service category with MEDCAP reporting the most virally suppressed clients (89 percent), followed by AIAP (79 percent) and ADAP (56 percent). As only fifty-six percent of active ADAP clients are virally suppressed, this indicates a need for improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and retention in care in this service category."[1]

Ironically, Alabama and Florida are experiencing different challenges related to the marketplace plans. In Alabama, there are not enough plans available to people living with HIV/AIDS (only 12), whereas in Florida too much time is spent "policing" the plans because there are so many.

The discussion also provided an opportunity to share lessons learned, and the implementation of successful strategies aimed at increasing access to care. Among them, local agencies leveraging 340B rebates to expand services and supports in critical areas, and the deployment of telemedicine networks.

Medicaid expansion will undoubtably remain an issue with profound repercussions on people living with HIV/AIDS, especially considering the uneven way it happening across the country. In the meantime, partnerships between care providers will grow in importance, as well as leveraging existing dollars to promote better health outcomes.

The ADAP Regional Summit in Birmingham, Alabama was held in partnership with the AIDS Alabama, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Community Access National Network (CANN). To learn more, visit http://adapadvocacyassociation.org/events.html#arsba.

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[1] Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of HIV Prevention and Care, "State of Alabama AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Quarterly Report," March 31, 2016; last viewed online at http://adph.org/aids/assets/ADAP_QuarterlyReport_Q1_2016.pdf. 

ADAP Directory & ADAP Formulary Database Link Stakeholders to Important Tools

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

On March 15th (2016), an important resource was once again made available by the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD). NASTAD released its 2016 Online AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Formulary Database and accompanying User’s Guide. The Database complements the patient-centric ADAP Directory, which is the ADAP Advocacy Association's flagship program.

NASTAD describes the provider-focused Database as "an online, searchable, publicly available resource detailing state-by-state ADAP coverage of medications both individually and by drug class including HIV antiretroviral (ARV) treatments, “A1” Opportunistic Infections (A1 OI) medications, treatments for hepatitis B and C, mental health and substance use treatment medications, and various vaccines and laboratory tests."[1]

Key findings from the 2016 ADAP Formulary Database include:[2]

• 3 ADAPs have “open formularies” in which all FDA-approved medications are included, excluding designated exceptions
• 38 ADAPs cover one or more hepatitis B treatment medication
• 33 ADAPs cover one or more hepatitis C treatment medication
• 19 ADAPs cover one or more of the curative direct acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C (HCV) treatment medications
• 9 cover daclatasvir (Daklinza)
• 17 cover dasabuvir, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Viekira Pak)
• 19 cover ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni)
• 8 cover ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir (Technivie)
• 12 cover simeprevir (Olysio)
• 17 cover sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)
• 43 ADAPs cover one or more of the most frequently prescribed mental health treatment medications
• 14 ADAPs cover one or more substance use treatment medication 

The ADAP Directory – launched in 2014 with ongoing support from AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Therapeutics, Merck, ViiV Healthcare, and Walgreens – ensures that people living with HIV-infection have access to the information and resources they need to live healthy and productive lives. The ADAP Directory consolidates useful ADAP-related information from all 50 states and 6 territories into one convenient location for:

• easy access to ADAP resources organized by state and territory;
• updated, current information for all 56 state ADAPs -- including drug formularies; and
• uniform presentation of ADAP information for effective advocacy and easy dissemination.

The “Perfect Storm” that had ravaged the cash-strapped ADAPs between 2008-2010 exposed some very real deficiencies in the amount and quality of information made readily available to patients living with HIV/AIDS. Today, patients...and in fact, all community stakeholders...have much more user-friendly information at their disposal.

Aside from the interactive map, which allows users to navigate all 56 ADAPs, other important resources and tools are available at the ADAP Directory. Among them, patient medication assistance programs and pharmaceutical patient assistance programs.

To learn more about the ADAP Directory, visit http://adap.directory. To learn more about the NASTAD Formulary Database, visit https://www.nastad.org/sites/default/files/2016-ADAP-Formulary-Database-Users-Guide.pdf.
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[1] National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), "Update: 2016 ADAP Formulary Database," March 16, 2016.

[2] National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), "Update: 2016 ADAP Formulary Database," March 16, 2016.

Hepatitis on the Hill

By: Emily Stets, Program and Policy Associate, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)

Imagine a room filled with over a hundred people from around the country, all wearing name badges, mingling in small groups and with purple folders tucked under their arms. Purple shoulder bags emblazoned with Hepatitis on the Hill are scattered around the room, straps hanging off the backs of chairs, and many participants have donned little Hepatitis on the Hill pins on their lapels.

This type of event may not seem uncommon in HIV advocacy, where inspiring events like AIDSWatch constitute the nation’s largest constituent-based national HIV/AIDS advocacy event. However, such events have only just begun to take off for the viral hepatitis community, where the urgent need for national stakeholders to address the viral hepatitis pandemics has heightened in the past few years.

Hepatitis B and C are distinct blood-borne viruses transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Left untreated, the viruses attack an individual’s liver, and represent the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States.[1] The CDC’s March 2016 Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer indicated that while the rate of most cancers in the U.S. have declined, liver cancer has increased 2.3% between 2003 and 2012. The report notes hepatitis C as a major contributing factor to liver cancer, and cited that 25% of people with hepatitis B develop serious liver problems, including liver cancer.

For many reasons, there is an urgent need for the viral hepatitis movement to unite and bring advocates together on a national stage. Alarmingly, recent data from the CDC has shown that deaths associated with hepatitis C surpassed deaths associated with all fifty-nine other notifiable infectious diseases combined.[2]

Rising Mortality Associated with HCV in the U.S.

The opioid and heroin epidemics are fueling the spread of new hepatitis B and C infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) across the country. Though many officials focused on HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana, a CDC report shows that 85% of PWID who contracted HIV were also coinfected with hepatitis C. Due to similar routes of transmission, studies show that about 25% of all people with HIV also have chronic hepatitis C, and 10% of people with HIV are living with hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B disproportionately affects the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.  While AAPIs make up less than 5% of the total U.S. population, they account for more than 50% of Americans living with chronic hepatitis B. We also continue to see perinatal transmission of hepatitis B despite having a safe and effective vaccine to prevent the disease. Community organizations struggle to address these vast disparities within the populations they serve with finite resources.

To address the necessity of uniting advocates, three national coalitions took action. This March, Hep B United (HBU), the Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership (HAP), and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) coordinated an event similar to AIDSWatch called Hepatitis on the Hill (HOTH). Over a two-day period, over one hundred constituents from twenty-seven states descended on Capitol Hill to educate their legislators on the impact of hepatitis B and C in their communities.

Throughout the event, advocates from across the nation engaged in conversation about the importance of screening, education, and treatment access, as well as the barriers they face in addressing these issues in their communities.

A key part of HOTH included networking, connecting advocates with resources, and framing constituents’ experience with viral hepatitis for legislators. In practicing their stories through role-play, participants prepared to ask their legislators to:

1. Support increased funding for the Division of Viral Hepatitis at CDC in the FY 2017 LHHS Appropriations Bill.
2. Urge legislators to maintain the modified syringe language included in the FY 2016 Appropriations Bill, which allows syringe service programs to use federal funds to support existing organizational efforts, though not to specifically purchase syringes.

Another highlight of the event was the participation of Dr. John Ward, the Director for the Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) at the CDC, and Dr. Rich Wolitski, the Acting Director from the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP). Participants had the opportunity to engage in conversation with these officials, and a special forum allowed advocates the opportunity to provide Dr. Wolitski with input on the planned update of the HHS Viral Hepatitis Action Plan.

These parallel events in the viral hepatitis and HIV communities highlight the overlap between these movements that serve populations living with certain infectious diseases, particularly with HIV and hepatitis B and C. The rates of HIV, HBV, and HCV coinfection remind us that these movements are not separate from one another, but interconnected. At this stage of these pandemics, there is enormous potential for collaboration and resource-sharing to combat HIV and viral hepatitis.

We encourage you to join the fight and explore how HIV and viral hepatitis coinfection impacts the population you serve. There are many ways to connect with others working in hepatitis! Here are a few:

Want to become more involved in hepatitis and appropriations?

Visit the Hepatitis Appropriations Partnership’s (HAP) website to learn more!

Want to connect with other organizations working in viral hepatitis?

Join NVHR and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to be involved with hepatitis B?

Visit www.hepbunited.org for more information, and follow HBU on Facebook and Twitter!

[1] Perz, J. F., Armstrong, G. L., Farrington, L. A., Hutin, Y. J., & Bell, B. P. (2006). The contributions of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. Journal of hepatology, 45(4), 529-538.
[2] Ly, K. N., Hughes, E. M., Jiles, R. B., & Holmberg, S. D. (2016). Rising Mortality Associated with Hepatitis C Virus in the United States, 2003-2013.Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciw111.

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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. 

Co-Paying the Piper

By: Marcus J. Hopkins, Blogger

One of the biggest changes for many lower income patients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been the transition to paying co-pays for their medical care. For patients living with HIV, this has been exceptionally difficult in states whose Ryan White Part B programs – the AIDS Drugs Assistance Programs (ADAPs) – have opted to pay for their clients’ insurance premiums, rather than simply directly paying for services as they’re administered. What this means for patients is that, where they once never had to worry about doctors’ visits or paying for medications, depending on their state of residence, they may not be responsible for paying co-pays for services.

To the average American with a stable, if thinly stretched, income, this may not seem like a big deal; but, to those of us living with HIV/AIDS on fixed or fluctuating incomes, this distinction may create an additional barrier to care that may not have existed, prior to now. It can be difficult to explain to people how, when one’s income is already low, paying $20-$30 for a visit to the doctor requires foregoing other basic necessities such as food or a utility bill put off until later; paying $100 for your HIV medications every month can mean that you no longer have enough to afford rent.

People who live without a chronic disease often fail to see the hardships presented with treating that disease. Outside of simply the cost of treatment, there are additional social and emotional issues at play. Having to rely on government assistance for any reason is frequently derided in our nation as a weakness; a moral failing that renders the recipient incapable of taking care of themselves. As such, there is often a guttural sense of shame and humiliation that accompanies having to rely on these assistance programs. It is this component that is so often left out of the conversation.

More than just the psychosocial aspect of seeking assistance, the reality is that, when a patient discovered their HIV-positive status, they are often unaware of the options that exist, in the way of coverage. Now that people with pre-existing conditions can no longer be barred from insurance coverage, many simply assume that private insurance is the only option available to them. In states where Medicaid services have not been expanded to include coverage for people living with HIV, many patients are unaware of the existence of the Ryan White or ADAP programs that are in place to provide assistance for lower income patients who cannot afford the cost of treatment.

Even with these programs in place, their assistance does not meet the Federal requirement for insurance coverage, and clients whose incomes are higher than the maximum allowed for exemption from the penalty for not having private insurance are often left to foot that bill, as well. This is one of several reasons why many ADAP programs are switching their coverage over to paying for private insurance, rather than a direct payment model.

For lower-income patients still having trouble paying for treatment, even with insurance, Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) exist that can help to partially or totally defray the costs. These programs are, however, largely unknown to people outside of the “know,” as it were – if you don’t “know” about them, you don’t know about them, and oftentimes, you only find out about them through random word of mouth. Sadly, many ADAP programs’ employees are unaware of these programs, and aren’t able to provide adequate information about either their existence or the requirements for applying.

One such program – the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation – has long served this purpose for people who are underinsured living with HIV. The maximum award level is $7,500 per year. Patients may apply for a second grant during their eligibility period subject to availability of funding.

Unfortunately, funds available through this program have been depleted. As of March 14th, 2016, patients seeking assistance for HIV are being encouraged to go to the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) for assistance. Individuals who have been recently approved for grants through the PAN Foundation will not be affected. When needing additional assistance or to re-enroll, individuals are encouraged to check back with PAN to determine if the fund has been re-opened and/or to seek additional support through PAF.

While the funds at PAN for HIV assistance have been exhausted for 2016, there are still funds available for patients who are mono- or co-infected with HCV at both PAN and PAF; one only needs to apply separately for assistance with that specific condition, as funds for HIV drugs do not carry over to HCV without an additional application.

Additionally, it should be made clear that these programs are not designed for the uninsured; rather, they are designed for the underinsured – those who carry some form of insurance, but for whom co-pays are unaffordable. It is also crucial to understand that these programs cover only the costs associated with drug co-pays; office visits and other non-pharmaceutical costs are not covered, and are left up to the individual and/or the Ryan White funds allocated to their clients.

For more information about PAF, and how it differs from the Patient Advocate Foundation, please visit www.patientadvocate.org.

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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. 

The 'Magic City' Embodies the Denver Principles

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

Birmingham is largest metropolitan city in Alabama, and its deep rooted history earned it the nickname, "The Magic City." Once a bustling manufacturing hub in the South, it is now recognized nationally for some of its leading medical research. Unfortunately, Alabama -- like most states in the Deep South -- has been disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. Yet, thanks to organizations such as AIDS Alabama, there is a vibrant grassroots advocacy community fighting to raise awareness, advance linkages to care, and promote the ideals embodied in the "Denver Principles."

Photo Source: POZ.com

The ADAP Advocacy Association (aaa+^®) is committed to keeping the patient perspective at the center of its advocacy and educational activities, especially at the local level. After all, all HIV/AIDS organizations -- whether it is a advocacy organization, think tank, or service provider -- exist to promote greater patient health and wellness. Isn't that what the Denver Principles were all about, even as a movement that is still evolving?

(Editor's Note: Please read Larry Bryant's 2013 blog, Will The Denver Principles Ever Be Relevant To Black People Living With HIV & AIDS?)

To that end, aaa+^® again this year will host regional summits designed to gather community input on the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). Community input at the local level is essential to improving access to care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to be implemented across the nation. With some of the ongoing challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS under the ACA, it is important for the advocacy community to share their insight and perspective.

There will be a regional summit held in Birmingham, Alabama on April 15th. It is being held in collaboration with AIDS Alabama, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Community Access National Network (CANN). To learn more about the ADAP Regional Summit in Birmingham, or to register for this important community event, go to http://adapadvocacyassociation.org/events.html.