By Zoom
3:05 – 4:05pm
Members Present: David Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), David Martin (Community Co-chair), Billy Fields (Finance Officer), Raffi Babakhanian, Paul Carr, LaShonda Cyrus, Joan Edwards, Rasheed Ford, Ronnie Fortunato, Marya Gilborn, Steve Hemraj, MD, Julian Palmer, Guadalupe Dominguez Plummer (ex-officio), Marcelo Maia Soares, Brook Montes, John Schoepp
Members Absent: Emma Kaywin, Freddy Molano
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: Michael Navejas, Doienne Saab, Scott Spiegler, Adrianna Eppinger-Meiering, Abraham Omeyoma; Public Health Solutions: Barbara Silver, Gemma Barclay, Arya Shahi, Rosemarie Santos
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Public Comment
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by introductions, including new Council Community Coordinator, and a moment of silence. The minutes from the February 14, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #3: Review of March 27th Planning Council Meeting Agenda
Mr. Klotz noted thatthe March 27th full Council meeting will include a vote on the CCR directive, plus an update on the implementation of the Ambulatory Outpatient Care/HIV & Aging service category. There will also be a presentation from the CHAIN study on HIV & Aging. The delayed EHE workplan, which includes technical assistance for Ryan White Part A providers on client advisory boards (CABs), will be presented.
Agenda Item #3: Revised Medical Case Management/Care Coordination (CCR) Service Directive
Mr. Hemraj and Ms. Fortunato introduced the revised CCR service directive, approved by the Integration of Care Committee, which will be rebid for services beginning March 1, 2026. HRSA defines CCR as a program to support retention in care by offering home-and field-based patient navigation focused on improving health outcomes in support of the HIV care continuum. Key activities were described (e.g., individualized care plan, treatment adherence support, coordinated access to services), and allowable services outlined (e.g., accompaniment, modified directly observed therapy). Service category goals remain the same, with the addition of increasing the use of immediate anti-retroviral therapy (iART) for the newly diagnosed.
Mr. Klotz outlined the goals and objectives aligned with the 2022-26 Statewide Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan (e.g., increasing the proportion of those linked to care and virally suppressed).
Ms. Saab described revisions to the service model. The main elements are:
- Strengthening the language around electronic (virtual) DOT, including promoting the use of existing interventions that have proven effective, such as “contingency management” through a smartphone-based app that uses incentive to reward VLS.
- Inclusion of a basic geriatric assessment (BGA) as a standard to screen for multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and cognitive impairments among older PWH, plus referrals to comprehensive services for aging PWH.
- Inclusion of iART as a bridge to regular treatment once clients are fully connected to clinical care.
The revised directive also encourages the Recipient to strengthen referral tracking through a closed-loop system or process to prevent gaps in care and enhance linkage to necessary services like specialty care, mental health, and harm reduction. In addition, minor tweaks were made to the eligibility section of the directive.
There was discussion of iArt as a first line therapy that should be followed by genotype testing performed by the clinical provider. Also, DOHMH staff will follow up with HRSA on a letter sent in 2023 asking for HRSA to allow Ryan White funds to reimburse for activities to address social isolation for older PWH. Mr. Fields commended the IOC Committee for their revisions to the directive, especially strengthening referral tracking.
Mr. Hemraj made a motion on behalf of the IOC Committee to accept the revised CCR service directive as presented. The motion was adopted 15Y-0N.
Mr. Klotz thanked the IOC Committee members and co-chairs for their work. He commended the extensive support of the Recipient staff and the outstanding work of Ms. Saab in support of the Committee’s work.
Agenda Item #4: Other Business
Mr. Hemraj promoted an upcoming event on HIV and emotional health.
Mr. Maia encouraged participation in the Consumers Committee’s Client Advisory Board Town Hall on April 15th.
There being no further comment, the meeting was adjourned.
