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Posted February 22, 2023

  • NIAID comprehensive transgender training curriculum* developed by a group of transgender, gender nonbinary, and cisgender researchers and subject matter experts. The modules include:
    • An Introduction to Transgender Communities
    • Creating a Gender-Affirming HIV Research Environment
    • HIV in Transgender Communities
    • Trauma-Informed Care for Transgender Participants in HIV Research
    • Clinical Considerations for Transgender Participants in HIV Research

Posted February 21, 2023

Posted February 2, 2023

  • Fact Sheet: Blacks Living with Diagnosed HIV in Miami-Dade County, 2021
    • 10,909 of 27,782 (39 %) of 27,782 persons living with diagnosed HIV in Miami-Dade County in 2021 were Black.
    • In 2021, HIV diagnosis rates among Blacks were 58% higher versus Hispanics and 371% higher versus White Non-Hispanics
    • For persons newly diagnosed with HIV, starting Antiretroviral Therapy [ART] with a provider immediately after diagnosis improves health outcomes by preventing disease progression and reducing viral load. To find a care provider or to learn more about resources available to persons living with HIV in Miami-Dade visit: www.testmiami.org.
  • Mpox Message for 2023: Integrating Mpox Messaging Into Our HIV Response* (HIV.gov) HIV.gov convened a meeting of federal HIV communications leadership to start the new year off with the critical message that integrating mpox messaging into our ongoing communications is foundational to our HIV response for 2023. While we recognize the important work that has been done to dramatically decrease new mpox cases, we cannot take our foot off the pedal, as there is still critical work needed to increase and routinize mpox vaccinations. . .

Posted January 11, 2023

  • Love Letter to Black Women, They are the backbone of NMAC and our work* NMAC Blog (crosspost from POZ.com) . . . NMAC owes so much to so many. We will celebrate Black Women across our movements, from activists to women living with HIV, national advocates, community voices, federal leaders, heath department staff, healthcare workers, and researchers. There are also many important women focused organizations. NMAC will tell multiple stories . . .
  • Clinical Needs of Older PLWH Include Focus on Symptom Clusters, Targeted Support Groups, and Correlations of Frailty* (TheBodyPro.com) The unique demands that growing older with HIV place on both patients and providers are a growing focus among U.S. health care providers. It is estimated that more than half of all people living with HIV in the U.S. are currently over the age of 50, a proportion that is expected to grow to 70% by the end of the decade. This leads to an increasing need for health care tailored to older people, many of whom may have been living with HIV for many decades.
    • Greater Focus on Symptom Clusters May Improve Interventions
    • Key Benefits of Focused Support Groups for Black Older Women Living With HIV
    • Survey Explores Factors Correlating With Frailty in Older PLWH

Posted December 15, 2022

  • World AIDS Day 2022 at NIH: Reflecting on the Progress and Promise of HIV/AIDS Research* (HIV.gov, December 15, 2022) On December 1, 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) commemorated World AIDS Day by highlighting past advances and potential breakthroughs in care and health outcomes made possible by HIV/AIDS research. In a virtual public event, NIH facilitated a compelling discussion about recent progress in HIV/AIDS research and the promise of future studies. The event was organized by the Office of AIDS Research (OAR), which also coordinates NIH’s HIV/AIDS research portfolio . . .

Posted December 9, 2022

  • The 2022-2026 Miami-Dade County Integrated HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Plan was submitted to HRSA on November 28, 2022.  The 2022-26 Integrated Plan incorporates the goals and objectives of  local, state, and national initiatives to achieve the national HIV goal, “Reducing the number of new HIV infections in the US by 75% by 2025, and then by at least 90% by 2030.” Specifically, this Plan is a comprehensive update of the 2017-21 Integrated Plan and fully incorporates the 2021 Ending the HIV Epidemic Jurisdictional Plan, and the Getting to Zero and other jurisdictional needs assessments and targeted community initiatives. Administration (AHCA; i.e., Medicaid); and others.

Posted November 21, 2022

Posted November 4, 2022

  • Florida Department Of Health In Miami-Dade County Providing Lifesaving Naloxone To Reduce Substance Abuse Deaths  Miami, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) is announcing the availability of free Naloxone (Narcan) Nasal Spray kits. This lifesaving medication could reduce thousands of substance abuse deaths across the state. Naloxone is available to people who use drugs, people with a history of drug use, others at risk of experiencing an overdose, friends, family members, and others who may witness an overdose. Kits consist of two Naloxone nasal sprays that are administered even without a health care professional present . . . Contact: Office of Communication, (786) 336-1276.

Posted November 3, 2022

  • For Providers on Telehealth.HHS.gov: New Telebehavioral Health Care Best Practice Guide*  Telehealth.HHS.gov has added a new best practice guide on telehealth for behavioral health care. Behavioral health – like other areas of health care – has changed significantly due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is now easier for mental health providers to offer and get reimbursed for telebehavioral health services. Telehealth can also make behavioral health services safer and more private and convenient for patients who can access care from their home. Find resources in the telebehavioral health best practice guide on getting started, developing a strategy, billing, preparing patients, and more.

Posted September 22, 2022

  • Issue Brief: Status Neutral HIV Care and Service Delivery Eliminating Stigma and Reducing Health Disparities* (CDC.gov) Today, powerful HIV prevention and treatment tools can keep people healthy and help end the HIV epidemic. Combining these tools in a status neutral approach can help people maintain their best health possible, while also improving outcomes in HIV prevention, diagnosis, care, and treatment. A status neutral approach to HIV-related service delivery aims to deliver high-quality, culturally affirming health care and services at every engagement, supporting optimal health for people with and without HIV. This approach is especially important now to reduce the unacceptably high number of annual HIV infections and help close the persistent gaps along the HIV prevention and care continuum, which indicate that not enough people are being engaged or retained in HIV prevention and treatment.

Posted September 20, 2022

  • HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Observes HIV and Aging Awareness Day*  On Sunday, September 18, we will observe National HIV and Aging Awareness Day. According to the 2020 RWHAP Annual Client-Level Data Report, 47.9 percent of RWHAP clients are aged 50 and older. Viral suppression rates among clients receiving RWHAP medical care were 92.9 percent for RWHAP clients aged 50 years and older, which is higher than the national RWHAP average of 89.4 percent. Read a recent TargetHIV blog post* to learn more about this population and RWHAP services and resources designed to meet their needs.

Posted July 28, 2022

  • CDC Awards Funding for Transgender Status-Neutral Community-to-Clinic Models to End the HIV Epidemic* (HIV.gov – July 13, 2022)  At the end of June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a total of $2 million in first-year funding to four organizations to develop models for community-to-clinic, status-neutral HIV prevention and care services for transgender persons. Click here* to read the complete HIV.gov blog post.  The four funding recipients are:
    • St. John’s Community Health in Los Angeles, CA
    • Care Resource Community Health Center in Miami, FL
    • Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York, NY
    • Whitman-Walker Health in Washington, DC
  • Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Compass Dashboard*  The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Compass Dashboard provides users an opportunity to interact with and visualize the reach, impact, and outcomes of the RWHAP. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) developed the RWHAP Compass Dashboard to support data utilization to improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. By advancing users’ ability to interact with and utilize RWHAP program data, the dashboard supports HRSA HAB’s vision of optimal HIV/AIDS care and treatment for all.

Posted July 20, 2022

  • Recognizing the Importance of People-First Language (Gilead)  Using inappropriate or inaccurate language to describe people living with HIV increases the amount of stigma and stress they can experience. One way to address stigma is to use people-first language, which is language that puts a person before a diagnosis, describing what a person “has” rather than asserting what a person “is.” Click to learn more.

Posted July 1, 2022

  • Imagine Ending HIV. It’s Possible.* New Campaign to Promote EHE! Just launched! Technical Assistance Provider innovation network (TAP-in) national campaign to inspire the HIV workforce to end the HIV epidemic by reducing the number of new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. The #ImagineEndingHIV campaign aims to improve staff’s leadership capacity and to support local health department leaders, teams, and partners from the 47 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program jurisdictions to implement innovative interventions along the HIV care continuum. Visit targethiv.org/imagine* for all the campaign resources!

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Posted June 28, 2022

  • Florida Department of Health, HIV Section Notice On Thursday, May 26, 2022, the Florida Department of Health convened a roundtable with state agencies and state associations to obtain buy-in at the state level for the expansion of routine HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis screening within acute care settings and hospital emergency departments. The objectives of the roundtable were to: 1. Discuss the current state of the Gilead Sciences Frontlines of Communities in the United States (FOCUS) and plans for expansion and sustainability of current model; 2. Discuss barriers and challenges to expansion; and 3. Identify stakeholder champions to assist with future expansion and sustainability implementation.  A brief summary report of the roundtable will be forthcoming and will also be shared on this page.

Posted May 19, 2022

  • Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. Programs*
    • Tenants’ Equal Justice Clinic (Hybrid – Remote / Zoom)  Monday – Thursday, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Designed for volunteer attorneys to give free legal advice to low-income individuals whose landlord has not returned a security deposit or clients who are living in unsuitable, unsafe or unhealthy living  conditions. Attorneys assist with initiating pro se Small Claims Court case or drafting letters to assist the client in curing legal issues that impede stable housing or habitability. Types of cases: Security Deposit; Prohibited Practices.
    • Consumer Equal Justice Clinic (Hybrid – Remote / Zoom)  Monday and Wednesday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Attorneys will give free legal advice and brief service to low-income individuals who face abusive debt collection problems. The clinic will see clients who are being sued and clients who have not yet been sued. Types of cases: Collection issues for credit card debt; Medical debt; Auto loan deficiencies; Collector harassment; Identity theft fraud; Credit reporting errors; and Student loan debt issues.
    • Space Is Limited and Registration Is Required. Apply online anytime: www.legalservicesmiami.org*; Apply by phone: (305) 576-0080

Posted May 12, 2022

  • Affordable Connectivity Program* Stay Connected! The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices. You are likely eligible if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch.  If your household is eligible, you could receive:
    • Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
    • Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
    • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)
    • A low cost service plan that may be fully covered through the ACP

Posted May 5, 2022

Posted March 28, 2022

  • Hepatitis A Update, March 21, 2022 Florida Department of Health statement: Florida is observing ongoing transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) among certain populations in communities in Florida. Between October 1, 2021 and March 19, 2022, 103 hepatitis A cases were reported across 20 counties. Of these new cases, 84 percent were reported in males and most of these individuals were not up to date on their hepatitis A vaccination or their vaccine status was unknown.

Posted March 25, 2022

Posted March 17, 2022

  • The Bureau of Communicable Diseases is pleased to announce the creation of the new Viral Hepatitis and Outbreak Response Section (VHORS) thus elevating viral hepatitis and outbreak response activities within the Bureau. Previously, viral hepatitis (Hep B and Hep C) prevention and surveillance were part of the Bureau’s STD Section. Click here for details and key contacts.

Posted March 14, 2022

  • HIV Care Access During the COVID-19 Pandemic as Perceived by Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups Served by the Ryan White Program, Miami-Dade County, Florida, Mary Jo Trepka, MD, MSPH, etal.  The Ryan White Program (RWP) in Miami-Dade County, Florida made several modifications to keep HIV care accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding telehealth services, increasing access to HIV medications, and waiving required lab tests for service recertification. We assessed ease of access to medical providers, medical case managers, and antiretroviral medications during the COVID-19 Pandemic among 298 Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Haitian people with HIV (PWH) served by the RWP Part A, Miami-Dade County, Florida using a telephone-administered survey between October 2020 and January 2021. Overall, most clients reported similar or better access compared to before the Pandemic. Use of videocalls to communicate with HIV medical providers varied by race/ethnicity: Hispanics (49.6%), Non-Hispanic Blacks (37.7%), and Haitian clients (16.0%). Results suggest the modifications helped maintain access to care during an unprecedented health crisis. Permanently adopting many of these modifications should be considered to continue to facilitate access to care.

Posted March 10, 2022

Posted February 16, 2022

  • HRSA Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day During Black History Month (HIV.gov)* Over the past 10 years, the RWHAP has made important progress in reducing health disparities among people with HIV. In 2020, a record-high 86.7% of Black/African American clients receiving care through the RWHAP were virally suppressed. This means they have an undetectable viral load and effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner. . .

Posted February 3, 2022

  • Status Neutral Approach Resources

Posted January 25, 2022

  • ONAP Listening Session on HIV Criminalization* (HIV.gov)  On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the White House’s Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) convened a virtual listening session on HIV criminalization laws. The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) calls for repeal and reform of state HIV criminalization laws as a strategy to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination and the complex barriers they pose for people with or who experience risk for HIV.

Posted January 4, 2022

  • Statement—NIH Celebrates FDA Approval of Long-Acting Injectable Drug for HIV Prevention* (Cross-posted from NIAID Newsroom) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its first approval of a long-acting HIV prevention medication. Developed by ViiV Healthcare, the medicine is long-acting cabotegravir injected once every two months. FDA has approved the medicine for use by adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kilograms who are at risk of sexually acquiring HIV. This milestone marks a vital expansion of biomedical HIV prevention options available to people in the United States . . .

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2020-2021
Imagine Ending HIV. It's Possible.

Posted March 31, 2022

  • Facts and Myths about HIV Stigma among Heterosexual Men – Howard University Webinar featuring Partnership member, Alberto Perez Bermudez (minute 44). 

Posted April 21, 2022

  • World AIDS Museum Interview with Alberto Perez Bermudez (YouTube)

This page includes links to Ryan White Program and non-Ryan White Program funded services. Please contact your Medical Case Manager with questions about Ryan White Program eligibility.

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ARCHIVES: 2021

Posted December 22, 2021

  • Dear Colleague Letter: Gender-Affirming Care in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program*  (hab.hrs.gov) Transgender people with HIV are a priority for HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). While viral suppression rates among transgender clients receiving medical care in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) are higher than the national non-RHWAP average, we understand that the transgender community faces unique barriers in HIV care. . .

Posted December 16, 2021

  • Extended Hours at CAN Community Health
  • Collaborate with Scale It Up Florida* A Youth-Focused Learning Health Community whose aim is to:
    • Understand health and social-related needs of the populations of local, state, and community levels
    • Create a pipeline of available resources that promote health equity in underserved populations
    • Promote bi-directional learning across different sectors that work to keep young people health throughout the state
    • Decrease the number of adolescents contracting HIV, link and retain youth in care that are living with HIV, and improve workforce development effort to better serve high risk and HIV+ youth
    • Click here* for the Scale It Up Florida website.

Posted December 1, 2021

  • A Proclamation on World AIDS Day, 2021* HIV.gov, Cross-posted from The White House Briefing Room.  While we have made remarkable progress in the 40 years since the first-known reported case of AIDS, this disease remains a serious public health challenge — and we join the international community to honor and remember the more than 36 million people, including 700,000 Americans, who have tragically died from AIDS-related illness since the start of the epidemic. We also renew our commitment to stand with the nearly 38 million people living with HIV around the world as we pursue our shared goal of ending the HIV epidemic.
  • National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States 2022–2025  NHAS Vision: The United States will be a place where new HIV infections are prevented, every person knows their status, and every person with HIV has high-quality care and treatment, lives free from stigma and discrimination, and can achieve their full potential for health and well-being across the lifespan. This vision includes all people, regardless of age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, geographic location, or socioeconomic circumstance.

Posted November 4, 2021

Posted October 14, 2021

  • Adherence 2021 Poster: Access to HIV medical care providers for Ryan White Program clients during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons learned  Trepka MJ (1), Ward M (1), Sheehan DM (1), Gbadamosi SO (1), Ibarra C (1), Li T (1), Ibañez GE (1), Jean-Gilles M (1), Ladner R (2); 1. Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA, 2. Behavioral Science Research Corporation, Miami, FL, USA.
  • Equity Matters: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Are Now Available on AHEAD* (HIV.gov) HHS recently added social determinants of health (SDOH) to America’s Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD). The addition of these data assists Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) stakeholders as they develop more comprehensive and data-driven plans of action to serve and meet the diverse needs of their jurisdictions.

Posted October 7, 2021

  • Treating Anal Cancer Precursor Lesions Reduces Cancer Risk for People With HIV  Groundbreaking National Clinical Trial Halted Due to Therapy’s High Success Rates
    Treating precursor anal cancer lesions can significantly reduce the risk of progression to full blown anal cancer among people living with HIV, according to results of a large, phase 3 study led by researchers at UC San Francisco. In a randomized clinical trial with 4,446 participants, known as the Anal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) study, researchers found that by removing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), chances of progression to anal cancer were significantly reduced. The trial is the first to show such findings and was performed at 21 clinical sites around the United States. Results are being prepared for peer-reviewed publication and are being shared now because of the public health importance of the findings.  Click here for the complete Press Release.

Posted September 28, 2021

  • HealthHIV’s Annual State of Aging and HIV National Survey: Findings Released HealthHIV released the findings its Second Annual State of Aging and HIV National Survey. This national survey reports the experiences of people diagnosis with HIV for 15 or more years as well as people with HIV over age 50, a population expected to comprise three-quarters of all people living with HIV by 2030. It gives insight into this rapidly growing segment of this population and findings can help inform the training needs of providers as they coordinate care for people with HIV as they age.

Posted September 9, 2021

  • Legal Services of Greater Miami News
    • Legal Services Successfully Advocates for the Educational Needs of Children with Disabilities* Children are returning to school in August after a challenging 2020-2021 school year as a result of the pandemic. Education experts say the year has impacted most students, but special education students were hurt the most. Every child is entitled to a free and appropriate public education that meets his or her special educational needs. Therefore, any child who has a learning disability or a disorder such as ADHD should not fall behind or should not be treated unjustly in the school system.
    • Homeowners with federally-backed mortgages did not get the moratorium extension they hoped for, but received a couple of important extensions. The foreclosure moratorium on federally-backed mortgages (those backed by the FHA, USDA, VA, and FHFA for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans), expired on July 30, 2021 with no extension. This means that foreclosure cases may now be initiated or resumed on these mortgages.  Contact Legal Services for details.  Miami-Dade (305) 576-0080 or Monroe (866) 686-2760.
    • Legal Services is a Ryan White Program provider in Miami-Dade County.

Posted September 2, 2021

  • HRSA Releases 2020 Data on HIV Prevention and Treatment in Health Centers* This month, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) released its Health Center Program calendar year 2020 Uniform Data System (UDS) data. The HIV-specific 2020 UDS data demonstrates that health centers: Conducted nearly 2.5 million HIV tests; Delivered primary care services to almost 190,000 patients living with HIV; Provided Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) services to 389,000 patients; and Ensured that 81% of newly diagnosed HIV positive patients aged 15-65 years old were linked to care within 30 days of diagnosis.

Posted August 18, 2021

  • Until the Cure: One Man’s Journey to Advocacy by local advocate, Alberto Pérez Bermúdez.
    • Click here* for Alberto’s story in A&U America’s AIDS Magazine.
    • Click here* for You Tube recording: Experiencias de vida, activismo y motivación. (En español)
  • NASTAD PrEP Coverage Brief: PrEP Services Covered with No Cost-Sharing*  This National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) fact sheet walks through the coverage and cost-sharing requirements for public and private payers that come with this USPSTF Grade A recommendation. It summarizes federal guidance on implementing Preventive Services provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including new federal sub-regulatory guidance addressing PrEP services released on July 19, 2021. Contact NASTAD’s PrEP team at PrEP@NASTAD.org* with questions or to request TA on PrEP financing and coverage.
  • Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Compass Dashboard*  The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Compass Dashboard provides users an opportunity to interact with and visualize the reach, impact, and outcomes of the RWHAP. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) developed the RWHAP Compass Dashboard to support data utilization to improve outcomes along the HIV care continuum. By advancing users’ ability to interact with and utilize RWHAP program data, the dashboard supports HRSA HAB’s vision of optimal HIV/AIDS care and treatment for all.

Posted July 27, 2021

  • HHS Announces New National Challenge to Reduce HIV-Related Stigma and Disparities* Through this challenge, HHS is seeking innovative and effective approaches to increase the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people who are at increased risk for HIV or are people with HIV. The HIV Challenge is open to the public, and HHS will award a total of $760,000 to 15 winners over three phases. Phase 1 submissions are open from July 26, 2021, through September 23, 2021.

Posted July 8, 2021

  • HIV: Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) People living with HIV who take antiretroviral medication as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners. Treatment with antiretroviral medication is recommended for all people living with HIV. This medication reduces the amount of HIV within the body and reduces the chance of transmission. That means healthier, longer lives. Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U, is a powerful HIV prevention tool. It redefines living with HIV, reducing stigma and empowering people to live their lives to the fullest.

Posted June 24, 2021

  • Dear RWHAP Colleagues: HRSA Recognizes National HIV Testing Day  Earlier this month, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) honored HIV long-term survivors and commemorated the 40th anniversary of when the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS were officially reported in the MMWR. This Sunday, June 27, 2021, we recognize another important observance: National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). This day is an opportunity to encourage and emphasize the importance of HIV testing, which is essential to reducing HIV infections, improving health outcomes for people with HIV, and helping to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

Posted June 10, 2021

  • White House.gov* A Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, 2021

Posted June 9, 2021

  • HRSA Honors 40 Years of Progress – It’s Time to End the HIV Epidemic*  On Saturday, June 5, 2021, HRSA will mark a momentous milestone in the HIV/AIDS community. It is HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day and the 40th anniversary of when the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS were officially reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). On this day, our HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) will honor the more than 32 million people who have died from AIDS-related illnesses globally, including 700,000 in the U.S., since the start of the HIV epidemic.

Posted June 4, 2021

  • HIV Long-Term Survivors Day*  “This June 5th, the world will mark 40 years since the first five cases of what later became known as AIDS were officially reported.” #HRSAHonorsHIVSurvivors #HIVat40 #HLTSAD  Click here* to take a look back at the epidemic.

Posted May 3, 2021 – HIV/AIDS Awareness Days

  • May 18: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day* This day is a chance to thank the volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists working together to find a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. It is also a time to educate communities about the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research.
  • May 19: National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day* #APIMay19 You can raise awareness of HIV stigma among Asian and Pacific Islander people and provide information on prevention, testing, and treatment using Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources for Asian people and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.

Posted April 28, 2021

Posted April 23, 2021

  • HRSA HAB Recognizes National Transgender HIV Testing Day* On April 18, 2021, HRSA HAB observed National Transgender HIV Testing Day. This awareness day recognizes the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness, and continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment efforts among transgender and gender non-binary people. We continue to stand in solidarity with the transgender community to advance gender-affirming health care, promote anti-discrimination policies, and reduce HIV-related stigma and transphobia to increase access to and use of HIV testing for transgender and gender non-binary people. In 2019, 2.3 percent (12,550) of clients served by our Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) were transgender. Compared to RWHAP clients identifying as male and female, RWHAP transgender clients are younger, have less stable housing, and have incomes at or below the federal poverty level.
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Posted March 10, 2021

  • National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day*  CDC.gov Dear Colleague Letter: March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health. As we continue our work toward ending America’s HIV epidemic, we acknowledge the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has presented. For some women, the impact of COVID-19 has made it more difficult to access HIV services. On NWGHAAD, join us in making sure all women have continued access to HIV testing (including self-testing), prevention, and treatment and care. Together, we can prevent new HIV infections and help women with HIV stay healthy . . .

Posted March 9, 2021

Posted February 24, 2021

  • AHEAD Dashboard Enhances Functionality* (HIV.gov) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released an enhanced version of the America’s HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD) that increases functionality and ease of use. As a key component of HHS’ Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, AHEAD visualizes data for six EHE HIV indicators that measure both local and national progress towards ending the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030.

Posted February 22, 2021

  • 2021 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines (Annual Income Ranges) Based on the table published in the Federal Register on February 1, 2021, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines are effective March 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022 for the local Ryan White Program (Part A and Minority AIDS Initiative) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22, to determine client financial eligibility. Financial eligibility is based on the client’s gross household income. Ryan White Program subrecipients should refer to the email from the Miami-Dade County Office of Management and Budget Grants Coordination/Ryan White Program, for details.

Posted February 17, 2021

  • HRSA Features Miami Beach Community Health Center For its Response to COVID-19 MIAMI, Fla., February 12, 2021 – Miami Beach Community Health Center (MBCHC) was featured in the February 9th Primary Care Digest for its response to COVID-19. The Primary Care Digest is a weekly e-mail newsletter sent by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to 1,318 health centers across all U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia. “Thanks to its HRSA funding, MBCHC has been instrumental in helping Miami, FL respond to the pandemic. Most recently, they began distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. . . “

Updated February 16 – Posted January 25, 2021

  • FDA Approves First Extended-Release, Injectable Drug Regimen for Adults Living with HIV* HIV.gov: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cabenuva® (cabotegravir and rilpivirine, injectable formulation) as a complete regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults to replace a current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine. This is the first FDA-approved injectable, complete regimen for HIV-infected adults that is administered once a month.

Posted February 4, 2021

  • New SAMHSA Guide Highlights HIV Prevention and Treatment for People with Substance Use and/or Mental Disorders* The HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released Prevention and Treatment of HIV Among People Living with Substance Use and/or Mental Disorders, a guidebook that addresses the co-occurrence of HIV and mental illness and/or substance use disorder and reviews effective programs and practices to prevent HIV and, for those with HIV, to increase linkage and retention to care in order to improve health outcomes.

Posted February 3, 2021

Posted January 19, 2021

Posted January 13, 2021

  • HealthHIV becomes the new home for PleasePrEPMe.org, the original comprehensive PrEP online resource*  As of Friday, January 15, 2021, HealthHIV will be the new home of PleasePrEPMe.org, an online platform that expands access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Initially launched in 2015 as a searchable and location-responsive provider directory for the State of California, PleasePrEPMe.org has expanded to provide HIV prevention resources in English and Spanish for consumers and providers in all 50 states. The platform features an online PrEP navigation training program with multiple modules/courses and downloadable resources which offer comprehensive insights and highlight best practices for PrEP consumers, navigators, and prescribers.
  • Fiscal Year 2021-2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research*  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) released two key documents to guide the NIH HIV/AIDS research program for years to come: (1) The FY 2021–2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research (the Plan), and (2) the FY 2021–2025 Notice (NOT-OD-20-018), which present NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities and Guidelines for Determining HIV/AIDS Funding.

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ARCHIVES: 2020

Posted December 30, 2020

  • Clinical Infectious Diseases Article*: Innovations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Care Delivery During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: Policies to Strengthen the Ending the Epidemic Initiative—A Policy Paper of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association

Posted December 23, 2020

  • CDC has updated its recommendation for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea in adults. Gonorrhea should now be treated with just one higher dose (500 mg) injection of ceftriaxone, and dual therapy is no longer the recommended approach. The new recommendations, briefly summarized below, are available in 2020 Update to CDC’s Treatment for Gonococcal Infections*, a special policy note published on December 17 in MMWR, and this new recommendation supersedes the gonorrhea treatment recommendation included in the 2015 STD Treatment Recommendations*.

Posted December 17, 2020

  • Miami-Dade HIV/AIDS Partnership selected to participate in the RWHAP Part A Planning Councils Recruitment and Retention Learning Collaborative (LC)* The Learning Collaborative (LC) will include a series of structured virtual learning sessions that engage PC/PB participants in process improvement with their team, other participating PC/PBs, and subject matter experts. Participating in the LC will support PC/PBs to meet the RWHAP requirement that “not less than 33 percent” of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part A planning councils shall be individuals who are receiving HIV-related services [under RWHAP Part A], and “reflect the demographics of the population of individuals with HIV/AIDS” in the service area. During the LC, PC/PBs will develop a recruitment and retention strategy that prioritizes consumers and people of color.

Posted December 10, 2020

Posted December 1, 2020 – World AIDS Day

Posted October 8. 2020

  • Miami Beach Community Health Center is a National Quality Leader for the second time in five years MIAMI, Fla., October 6, 2020 – Miami Beach Community Health Center (MBCHC) once again received HRSA’s prestigious National Quality Leader award. This award recognizes MBCHC for ranking in the top 1-2% nationally of all health centers in the clinical quality measures that promote diabetes health and heart health for 2019. MBCHC previously attained National Quality Leader status in 2016. MBCHC is also a Gold tier Health Center Quality Leader for achieving overall clinical performance in the top 10% of all health centers nationwide. HRSA’s Quality Awards recognize the highest performing health centers nationwide. “MBCHC is immensely proud of this significant accomplishment and we owe it to the hard work and dedication of our outstanding clinical leadership and staff,” said Trudy Pacheco, Director of Grant and Project Development.
  • HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – Optimizing HIV Care for People Aging with HIV: Reference Guides for Aging with HIV
    • Putting Together the Best Health Care Team The purpose of this reference guide is to discuss how all members of the health care team can contribute to the care of people aging with HIV. Specifically, this reference guide identifies roles, responsibilities, staff training, and resources for the health care team to build their capacity. The reference guide may assist the health care team as they build and expand their knowledge and practice of serving people aging with HIV.
    • Incorporating New Elements of Care The purpose of this reference guide is to identify commonly occurring health care and social needs of people aging with HIV and to highlight the screenings and assessments for these needs. This reference guide serves as a starting point for the health care team as it builds and expands its knowledge and practice of serving people aging with HIV.

Posted October 7, 2020

  • hab.hrsa.gov: The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) is pleased to release the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Annual Client-Level Data Report, 2018*. This publication reflects HRSA HAB’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the availability of program information. The report is the second publication of national ADAP client-level data submitted through the ADAP Data Report (ADR) system. ADR data describe the demographic characteristics of clients accessing ADAP services and the ADAP-funded services used. Data are included for 2014 through 2018, nationally and by state/territory.

Posted October 1, 2020

  • October 15, 2020 – National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day* #NLAAD Coordinated by the Latino Commission on AIDS, National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) is observed each year on October 15 to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on the Hispanic/Latino population in the US. Get Involved – Partners and organizations can use the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources to highlight ways to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing and treatment for Hispanics/Latinos. The Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign includes resources and partnerships aimed at stopping HIV stigma and promoting HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. This campaign is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative and empowers communities, partners on the ground, and healthcare providers to reduce stigma among all Americans, prevent HIV among the hardest-hit populations, and help people with HIV stay healthy.

September 27,  2020 – National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD)

  • National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD)* is observed each year on September 27 to direct attention to the continuing and disproportionate impact of HIV on gay and bisexual men in the United States. Partners and organizations can use the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources to highlight ways to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing and treatment for gay and bisexual men. The Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign includes resources and partnerships aimed at stopping HIV stigma and promoting HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. This campaign is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative. Let’s Stop HIV Together empowers communities, partners on the ground, and healthcare providers to reduce stigma among all Americans, prevent HIV among the hardest-hit populations, and help people with HIV stay healthy.

Posted September 24, 2020

  • CDC Announces New HIV Treatment Campaign Resources*  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is rolling out a new suite of HIV Treatment Works (HTW) products and materials as part of its Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. The new campaign materials focus on reaching and supporting people with HIV and encouraging them to get in care, stay on medication, reduce their risks, and live well with HIV throughout their life.  @StartTalkingHIV @CDCHIV @StartTalkingHIV @CDC_HIVAIDS @stophivtogether

September 18, 2020 – National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

September 3, 2020

  • HRSA Publishes Special Collection of Articles from SPNS Social and Digital Media Initiative*  “This month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a collection of manuscripts in Health Promotion Practice (HPP) September 2020 edition, highlighting models of care and outcomes from an initiative that utilized innovative social media methods to link and retain hard-to-reach youth and young adults in HIV primary care and supportive services. HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program “Use of Social Media to Improve Engagement, Retention, and Health Outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum” initiative funded demonstration projects in ten cities throughout the country from fiscal year 2015-2019.”

September 1, 2020

August 18, 2020 – Celebrating 30 Years of the Ryan White CARE Act 

  • Today, HRSA celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act*. In 1990, this critical legislation was signed into law creating the largest Federal program focused uniquely on providing care and treatment to people with HIV – the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP).
  • The theme is “30 Years of Innovating Care, Optimizing Public Health, Ending the HIV Epidemic.” For three decades, the program has been vital to the public health response to HIV in the U.S. and is a critical component of the Administration’s Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative. More than 50 percent of people with diagnosed HIV in the U.S. receive services from the RWHAP each year. That’s more than half a million people each year.
  • To honor this milestone, HRSA encourages recipients, federal partners, and stakeholders to print out and fill in an “I CARE” sign, take a photo, and share it with @HRSAgov with the hashtag #30YearsofCARE.

July 30, 2020

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June 27, 2020

  • HRSA Recognizes National HIV Testing Day on June 27*  This year’s Testing Day theme is “Knowing,” which highlights the importance of knowing your HIV status, knowing where you can get tested, and knowing how you can connect to care and treatment services if you test positive. Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, but one in seven people with HIV are unaware they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . .
  • CDC’s National HIV Testing Day Dear Colleague Letter* Dear Colleague: June 27th is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). As people across the nation fight for racial justice, it is critical that we continue to shine a light on the health disparities that persist in communities of color, with some of the most extreme occurring in HIV and STDs. Every day, we work together to dismantle the systemic barriers to health equity and ensure that everyone in the United States has equal and unfettered access to affordable healthcare, which includes HIV testing. . .

June 25, 2020

  • Integrated Planning Guidance from DHHS* On June 17, 2020, HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division for HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) issued a program letter on the upcoming release of guidance for the Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan, including the Statewide Coordinated Statement of Need (SCSN), a legislative requirement for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Parts A and B recipients. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HAB and DHAP have determined they will postpone the issuance of the new guidance for calendar years 2022-2027 submission, which was anticipated in summer 2020. HAB and DHAP will notify grant recipients of the updated timeline for the guidance and the submission later this year.

June 18, 2020

  • FDA Approves New Drug to Treat Infants and Children with HIV* (HIV.gov) On June 12, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tivicay (dolutegravir) tablets and Tivicay PD (dolutegravir) tablets for suspension to treat HIV-1 infection in pediatric patients at least four weeks old and weighing at least 3 kg (6.61 pounds) in combination with other antiretroviral treatments.
  • Men’s Health Awareness Week is the Week before Father’s Day National Men’s Health Week is observed each year leading up to Father’s Day. This week is a reminder for men to take steps to be healthier to support and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men. . In 2018, 4,906 Floridians were diagnosed with HIV, including 3,892 (79%) men, of whom 35% were ages 20–29, and 74% attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (MSM), 19% to heterosexual contact, 4% to injection drug use (IDU) and 3% to MSM/IDU. By race/ethnicity, 37% were Hispanics/Latinxs, 35% Black, 26% White, and 2% other/mixed races (compared to Florida’s male population of 26%, 15%, 54% and 5% respectively). Of the 119,661 persons with an HIV diagnosis (PWH) in Florida in 2018, 73% were men, of whom 68% were retained in care, (vs. 69% of all Florida PWH); and 65% had a suppressed viral load (vs. 64% of all FL PWH). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by >90%.

June 9, 2020

  • SE AETC Dear Colleagues Letter*  The Central Office of the Southeast AETC shares the heartbreak and outrage of the nation over the recent events which highlight the impact of institutional racism and violence on many members of our society. Unfortunately, the attitudes and practices that led to the chilling murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis are not new and reflect many of the tremendous challenges the SE AETC faces today as we try to overcome barriers to providing compassionate, expert and unbiased care to all people with HIV. Stigma and its effect on patient care are closely linked to the issues laid bare by the events in Minnesota. We will continue to do our part to deal with stigma and all its negative effects on our patients. We are extremely privileged to work with you all in this time of turmoil and distress. For information on how to reduce stigma and cultural insensitivity in your practice:

June 5, 2020

  • June 5: HIV Long-Term Survivors Day*  Not Our First Pandemic is the HLTSAD 2020 theme – An invitation to survivors to share insights gleaned from surviving the AIDS pandemic in a world gripped by COVID-19.  Take a moment today to recognize HLTS in your life.  #NotOurFirstPandemic  #HLTSAD

Posted April 2020

Posted March 11, 2020

  • March 10: Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – CDC Dear Colleague Letter*  (HIV.gov) This year’s theme, “HIV Prevention Starts with Me,” reminds us that everyone, regardless of their HIV status, can make an impact in preventing new HIV cases in women and their partners. The theme encourages women to take charge of their health through prevention measures, such as taking daily medicine to prevent HIV called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), if they are at high risk. Click here for details.

Posted March 5, 2020

  • HHS Awards $117 Million to End the HIV Epidemic in the United States*  (HHS) February 26 Press Release.  Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded approximately $117 million to expand access to HIV care, treatment, medication, and prevention services. This investment is a critical component of the Administration’s Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) initiative, which aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 90 percent by 2030.

Posted February 27, 2020

Posted February 25, 2020 (Originally posted 11/14/19)

  • New Public Charge Rule is in effect as of Febraury 24, 2020
  • Immigration & the Ryan White Program
    • Message From the Miami-Dade County Office of Management and Budget Grants Coordination/Ryan White Program: It has come to our attention that people with HIV who are in the process of seeking admission to the U.S. or an adjustment in their immigration status fear that enrollment or participation in the Ryan White Program may jeopardize their chances for a successful immigration outcome. Even some attorneys are telling them this, in error.  Please let clients in this situation and/or their attorneys know that, per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s final rule on public charge (dated August 14, 2019), the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is exempt from the “public charge” restrictions. [Click here for the Final Rule report and note the highlighted sections.] It is critical to remind clients of the importance of HIV treatment adherence to their overall health and the health of our Miami-Dade community.
    • A Look at the Public Charge Final Rule: Are There Implications for HRSA?  Please note the highlighted sections.

Posted February 13, 2020

  • New Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Population Fact Sheets Now Available* (HRSA.gov) New population-specific fact sheets highlighting data about clients served by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) are now available on the HIV/AIDS Bureau website. These consumer-focused materials feature 2018 RWHAP client-level data. Fact sheet topics include: RWHAP client overview, youth and young adults, older adults, black/African American clients, transgender clients, female clients, and Hispanic/Latino clients.

Posted January 30, 2020

Posted January 17, 2020

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Mpox

Updates on the Mpox Outbreak are arriving almost daily.  Please check these webpages for the most current information and recommendations:

Florida Department of Health Mpox Webpage*

Local Ryan White Program Providers Offering Mpox Vaccinations

HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program*

  • HRSA Mpox Vaccine Distribution Initiative* – Vaccine Distribution to Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Dually Funded Health Center Program Recipients (September 1, 2022)
  • White House* Mpox Response Team Announces New Plans to Support Large LGBTQI+ Events and Equity Interventions to Reach Communities at Highest Risk of Contracting the Virus (September 1, 2022)

CDC Mpox Webpage*

HIV.gov Mpox Webpage*

Additional Resources

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Meningococcal Disease Alert  

Meningococcal disease can be prevented and treated!  Meningococcal disease can lead to meningitis (infection and swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and septicemia (infection of the bloodstream). Getting Vaccinated is the Best Way to Protect Against Meningococcal Disease.

Hepatitis A Outbreak

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