AIDS Action Weekly Update

• This Week in Washington
  • NORA Appropriations Working Group Meets With Key Congress Members
  • AIDS Action Gives Testimony for IOM Hearing on Community Planning Process
  • Dr. Martin Speaks at CSAP Targeted Capacity Expansion Grantee Final Meeting
  • Health Privacy Regulations Undergoing Review
  • House Holds Hearing on Abstinence-Only Education as Preliminary Report Finds 'No Reliable Evidence' of Program's Effectiveness
  • AIDS Action Council Elects New Slate of Officers, Adds Three New Board Members
  • HHS/HRSA/HAB Announce Ryan White CARE Act Title III Planning Grant Program Applications
  • Surgeon General and NIH Director Confirmation Hearings Announced
• In the News
  • Secretary Thompson Travels to Guyana to Sign Pan-Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS
  • Kaiser Releases Annual ADAP Monitoring Report
  • amfAR Announces Letters of Intent Deadline for Next Round of amfAR Research Grants
• AIDS Action Board Member Highlight

This Week in Washington

NORA Appropriations Working Group Meets With Key Congress Members

On April 18 and 19, 2002, AIDS Action government affairs staff, along with advocates from other national HIV/AIDS organizations, participated in a series of NORA sponsored meetings with House and Senate congressional staffers to advocate for increased funding for HIV/AIDS care, treatment, research and prevention programs for FY 2003.

The NORA Appropriations Working Group (National Organizations Responding to AIDS) focused its visits on congressional staffs that represent Members of Congress who sit on the Senate or House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittees, the committees responsible for determining the funding levels for federally-supported HIV/AIDS programs. Specifically, the NORA group met with the offices of: Senators Cochran, DeWine, Durbin, Feinstein, Harkin, Hollings, Hutchinson, Inouye and Kohl and Representatives DeLauro, Granger, Hoyer, Jackson, Jr., Lowey, Obey, Pelosi, Regula, Sherwood and Young.

Congressional staff consistently communicated to the group that FY 2003 is going to be a very difficult year for appropriations given the focus on homeland security, bioterrorism and defense. They stressed the need for local organizations and community leaders to communicate to Members of Congress and staff in their home district, the impact of federally-supported HIV/AIDS programs at the local level, as well as the nature and scope of the current epidemic. The consensus opinion on Capitol Hill is that markups of the Senate and House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations measure will not occur until late summer, at the earliest.

AIDS Action Gives Testimony for IOM Hearing on Community Planning Process

AIDS Action Council Board member, Gunther Freehill (LA County Department of Health) provided testimony to the Institutes of Medicine hearing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Planning Process. Noting that the planning process is an integral part of the response to the epidemic, Freehill articulated the need for continued collaboration among consumers, providers and governmental agencies to meet all of the needs of the domestic HIV epidemic. Recognizing that HIV has reached every community and corner of our nation, the Community Planning Process is vital to HIV prevention efforts that are locally prescribed, delivered, and controlled and addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities.

Dr. Martin Speaks at CSAP Targeted Capacity Expansion Grantee Final Meeting

AIDS Action Executive Director, Dr. Marsha Martin, spoke at the Substance Abuse Prevention/HIV Prevention Targeted Capacity Expansion Grantee final meeting last week in Baltimore, MD. CSAP, operated under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has been running a collaborative effort that incorporates substance abuse prevention along with HIV prevention in a three-year program that recently ended. Dr. Martin spoke about the need for increased integration of substance abuse prevention and HIV prevention efforts, the results that the three-year targeted grantee programs have had, and the fact that community organizations can implement programs that address the needs of their local communities. The Targeted Capacity Expansion Grantee program has been a success in linking HIV and Substance Abuse prevention and the results are being complied to present to the Administrator of the SAMHSA and to President in hopes of renewing the program.

Health Privacy Regulations Undergoing Review

Last week the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee held a hearing on medical privacy. Federal rules and regulations implemented under the Clinton Administration for privacy of individually identifiable health information have proposed modifications from the current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Privacy Regulations, implemented as part of the Health Insurance Portability Protection Act (HIPPA), ensure that patients visiting doctors and other healthcare providers have adequate privacy for their medical records. Proposed modifications include removal of the requirement that healthcare providers obtain an individual's consent prior to using or disclosing protected health information for treatment, payment and health care operations. A second change in the definitions of "marketing" will allow third parties to encourage patients to purchase or use an alternative product or service that is health related, even when a third party pays a covered entity to make the communication. An additional modification changes data sets that are available for research, public health, and healthcare operations purposes and may allow "identifiable" characteristics, especially among rural areas.

Proposed modifications could limit the ability of consumers to regulate private information about their healthcare. As many individuals living with HIV/AIDS face stigma, discrimination, and fear of disclosure, the proposed modifications to the Health Privacy Regulations could compromise an individual by making some or part of their health records available. To find out more about the privacy regulations and implications about the proposed modifications, visit the Health Privacy Project at Georgetown University here.

House Holds Hearing on Abstinence-Only Education as Preliminary Report Finds 'No Reliable Evidence' of Program's Effectiveness

On April 23, The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce debated a provision in the welfare reform bill that reauthorizes funding for abstinence-only education. The debate coincided with the release of a preliminary HHS-funded report from Mathematica, Inc., that found no proof that such programs are effective.

Federal funding for abstinence-only education programs comes from several sources, including the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, the 1981 Adolescent Family Life Act and HHS grants. The Welfare Reform Act, which is up for reauthorization this year, originally granted $50 million per year over five years to states for the provision of abstinence education. The Bush-proposed welfare reform renewal plan would extend abstinence-only education funding at the current level, requesting an overall 33 percent increase in abstinence education funding, a boost that would fulfill his promise to fund abstinence education programs at the same level as comprehensive sex education programs.

Proponents of this funding offer that there is not a clear message about the benefits of abstinence for young people. Opponents and the preliminary report offer that there is no reliable evidence that these programs are effective in reducing teen sex, pregnancy or the transmission of HIV or other STDs.

AIDS Action Council Elects New Slate of Officers, Adds Three New Board Members

The AIDS Action Council Board met in Washington, DC over April 14-15 and elected a new slate of officers. Ronald Johnson of Gay Men's Health Crisis (New York, NY) was elected as board chair. Johnson is joined by Vice Chair, Charles Henry (Los Angeles County Department of Health, Los Angeles, CA), Secretary, Joseph Interrante (Nashville Cares, Nashville, TN) and Treasurer, Millicent Gorham (National Black Nurses Association, Silver Spring, MD). The Council Board is also pleased to announce the addition of three new Council Board Members, AltaMed Health Services Organization and the Palms Residential Care Facility, both of Los Angeles, and the Harlem Directors Group of New York City.

HHS/HRSA/HAB Announce Ryan White CARE Act Title III Planning Grant Program Applications

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resource and Services Administration and HIV/AIDS Bureau has grant funds available to plan for the establishment of primary care services. A portion of the funding for the planning grant program is sponsored by the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative to address unmet needs of communities of color. The Year 2002 Planning Grant Program supports public and private nonprofit entities in their planning efforts to develop high quality primary health care services for people living with HIV/AIDS or at risk of infection in rural, underserved communities, and/or communities of color. In FY 2002, HRSA/HAB anticipate awarding 90 planning grants. Applications are due by May 31, 2002. For more information or a grant application, click here.

Surgeon General and NIH Director Confirmation Hearings Announced

Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee are set to begin the confirmation hearings for Bush Nominees for Surgeon General and Director of the National Institutes of Health on April 30, 2002. While little is known about the attitudes of Dr. Richard Carmona (Surgeon General Nominee) or Dr. Elias Zerhouni (NIH Director) with regards to HIV/AIDS, AIDS Action will charge each of these men to adhere to their Hippocratic Oath to "do no harm" if confirmed. AIDS Action staff will be contacting our members in the coming days with more information on how to participate in the confirmation hearings to ensure that both doctors are the best candidates for the job.

In the News

Secretary Thompson Travels to Guyana to Sign Pan-Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson visited Georgetown, Guyana on April 20, to increase U.S.-Caribbean collaborations on HIV prevention and care. The visit comes less that a month after Secretary Thompson visited Africa to explore strategies to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The signing of the agreement will be in conjunction with a meeting with Caribbean ministers of health, non-governmental organizations and health officials from the CDC, HRSA, NIH and U.S. AID to provide an overview of current global HIV/AIDS activities and outline plans for future health partnerships. The partnership agreement will expand the reach of HHS programs, particularly the Global AIDS Program, a joint collaboration between CDC and HRSA to operate health staff in 25 countries to help prevent HIV infection, improve care and treatment, and build capacity to address the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and the effects of migration between the Caribbean and the U.S. For more information on his visit, click here.

Kaiser Releases Annual ADAP Monitoring Report

The 2002 National ADAP Monitoring Project's Annual Report and Fact Sheet are now available. The National ADAP Monitoring Project is commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation and is conducted by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and the AIDS Treatment Data Network. Key findings from this year's report include a 12 percent increase in the ADAP budget from FY 2001, a 10 percent increase in clients served, and a 16 percent increase in drug expenditures. Trends in ADAP clients, expenditures and growth have remained relatively constant over time, with all three growing at slower rates last year than in previous years. Trends also show that ADAP client demographics have remained relatively constant over time, even though states face persistent access limitations including capped enrollments, limited antiretroviral access, or expenditure caps. The report also includes a new issue brief, "AIDS Drug Assistance Programs -- Getting the Best Price?" This new brief examines how ADAPs are purchasing and dispensing drugs and containing program costs. The documents can be accessed here.

amfAR Announces Letters of Intent Deadline for Next Round of amfAR Research Grants

amfAR's (American Foundation for AIDS Research) latest request for proposals (RFP) solicits letters of intent for biomedical science research projects relevant to HIV/AIDS, including studies of the molecular biology and immunology of HIV/AIDS, HIV pathogenesis, HIV vaccines, and new HIV therapeutics, in addition to other research areas. Funds for new and renewal research grants are available in each of these areas. Additionally, the Foundation is accepting applications for two-year amfAR fellowships and short-term travel grants. Letters of intent to submit a request for proposals are due May 7, 2002. For further information and detailed instructions, click here.

AIDS Action Board Member Highlight

The AIDS Action Council Board of Directors consists of local HIV/AIDS service providers throughout the United States. Each week, the Update will highlight one of these service providers and the work they are doing to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in their region.

AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) is a statewide private, non-profit health and social service agency that works to confront and alleviate the effects of HIV disease in Wisconsin. Established in 1985, ARCW is committed to providing the most aggressive HIV prevention strategies, adapting state health and social services to meet the evolving needs of Wisconsin's HIV community, advancing worldwide AIDS research, and continuing advocacy for enlightened public policy. ARCW currently serves over 1500 individuals in the statewide case management program and provides social, health and legal services, HIV prevention and education, housing and return to work programs and advocacy, education and training at little or no charge to men women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. To learn more about the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, click here.