Virginia Department of Health - Division of HIV, STD, and Pharmacy Services - E-Bulletin, January 2006
Community Services
On February 7, 2006, please join the Division of Disease Prevention in recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). NBHAAD is a national community mobilization effort designed to increase awareness, participation and support for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment among African-Americans. The sixth annual observance is aimed at motivating African-Americans to get educated about the transmission modes of HIV/AIDS, get involved in their local communities, get tested to know their HIV status and get treated if they are living with HIV or are newly diagnosed. NBHAAD is an excellent opportunity to encourage HIV/AIDS awareness in your community. Each of you should consider offering an educational program or special event commemorating the observance. If your organization would like to be included in the Division’s events listing or you need a copy of the event submission form, please contact Shannon N. Marshall, Public Relations Coordinator, at Shannon.Marshall@vdh.virginia.gov or (804) 864-7963 by Monday, Jan. 23rd. Be sure to include your event name, location, date, time, contact person and telephone number.
In August 2005, a Request for Proposals was issued for the Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) HIV Prevention grant program. A total of $250,000 was available for this solicitation. Funds were made available through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The grantees will provide primary HIV prevention interventions for MSM through street and community outreach, individual and group level interventions, comprehensive risk counseling and services, and HIV testing and counseling. Targeted subpopulations include self-identifying gay or bisexual men, men on the down low who do not self-identify as gay or bisexual, MSM of color, MSM/injection drug users, young MSM (under age 25), MSM who are HIV-infected and continue to engage in high risk behavior, and Latino MSM. The funding cycle for this grant program is January 1, 2006-December 31, 2006. Awards were made to AIDS/HIV Services Group in Charlottesville, Council of Community Services in Roanoke, Fan Free Clinic in Richmond, Minority Health Consortium in Richmond, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry in Falls Church, and Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce in Norfolk. For more information about this program, please contact Jennifer Flannagan at (804) 864-8015 or Jennifer.Flannagan@vdh.virginia.gov.
In October 2005, a Request for Proposals was issued for the Primary Prevention with People Living with HIV grant program. A total of $235,000 was available for this solicitation. The funds were made available through a cooperative agreement with the CDC. The grantees will provide individual and group level interventions to include Comprehensive Risk Counseling and Services (CRCS), previously known as prevention case management, Healthy Relationships, an evidence-based curriculum that is part of the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions, and other interventions found in the CDC’s Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness. The new funding cycle began January 1, 2006. Awards were made to AIDS Response Effort in Winchester, Center for Comprehensive Care of Immune Deficiency in Norfolk, Full Circle/CANDII in Norfolk, and Karing with Individuality (K.I. Services) in Alexandria. The Division will also continue agreements with the Central Virginia Health District in Lynchburg and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to provide CRCS for clients in the Southwest and Central health regions. For more information about this program, please contact LaShaun Evans at (804) 864-8023 or LaShaun.Evans@vdh.virginia.gov.
The Hotline has received the first shipment of the revised Positive Living manual and tracker. Revisions include updates to medical information and new chapters about pet care and travel. Backorders should be going out within the week. The Division will also be placing a PDF copy on the website so that individuals may download the documents. Questions should be directed to Keith Pinney at (804) 864-8011 or Keith.Pinney@vdh.virginia.gov.
Health Care Services
Impact of New Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit on Ryan White-funded Services: The new Medicare Part D prescription drug program began on January 1, 2006, and will have a significant impact on Ryan White-funded services. Medicare eligible clients who receive ADAP or Title II-funded medication assistance are required to enroll in a Part D plan. Clients with incomes below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level ($14,355 for one person), must apply for the Low Income Subsidy, also known as "extra help", available through the Social Security Administration. Most clients who receive extra help will be required to use Medicare Part D as the payment source for their medications. The only exception will be for persons with incomes between 135-150% of FPL. If clients in this income range cannot, on their own or through other sources, pay the cost sharing components of Part D, they will be allowed to request an eligibility exception that will allow them to remain on ADAP. Clients with incomes above 150% FPL will be allowed to remain on ADAP. Title II contractors, through the Consortia, are encouraged to assist clients with Part D cost sharing components including premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Clients have until May 15, 2006, to enroll in a plan. Failure to enroll by May 15, may jeopardize their ability to access any medications through Title II. VDH is communicating with other Ryan White programs, Title I, III and IV, to encourage them to assist their clients with Part D costs. If you have further questions on how Part D and Title II will interact, you may call Health Care Services at 804-864-7965.
The 2004 HIV/AIDS Annual Statistics is now available online. Click on the image on the Division's homepage at www.vdh.virginia.gov/std/ to download the PDF. Printed copies will be available soon!