INTEGRATION OF CARE COMMITTEE MEETING
January 21 2026, 10:00am-11:28 am
By Zoom Videoconference
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: Jeff Natt (Co-chair), Steve Hemraj (Co-chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Victoria
Bell, Billy Fields, Gretchen George Ty, Ronnie Fortunato, Charmaine
Graham, Jemima Maxine Louis, Marcelo Maia, David Martin, Cesar Nuñez,
Jesus Robles, Brenda Starks-Ross, John Schoepp
Guest/Others Present: None
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: David Klotz (Governmental co-chair), Doienne Saab (Cmte.
Support Staff), Michael Navejas, Laura Moya-Adames, Abraham Omeyoma; Recipient:
Guadalupe Domiguez-Plummer, Johanna Acosta, Jelani Cheek, Adrianna Eppinger-Meiering,
Gina Gambone, Sara Kramer, Frances Silva, Arnelle Vincent
Agenda Item # 1: Roll Call/Moment of Silence/Minutes
Jeff N. and Steve H. opened the meeting and reviewed the agenda. Doienne Saab conducted a roll
call. Members were informed that the December Integration of Care Committee minutes had been
circulated in advance. No corrections noted, and hence approved. A moment of silence was held.
Agenda Item #2: Ryan White Part A Legal Services (LSN) Draft
Doienne S. presented a presentation of the revised RWPA Legal Services directive,
explaining that the revision aims to align the service directive, with HRSA definitions and
requirements, allowable services, incorporates updated best practices, innovative service
delivery models, and supportive services; to strengthen the delivery of legal services for
RWPA clients across the NY EMA.
The presentation outlined the multi-step revision process used to update the directive
including – reviewing the prior service directive, conducting literature reviews, scanning best
practices, feedback from the IOC members and community, receiving presentations and
programmatic data from the Recipient, and incorporating evidence based and innovative
service delivery models.
D. Saab reviewed key updates to the directive, beginning with the application of the NY HIV
Planning Council Framing Directive to ensure that legal services are delivered in a client2
centered, non-judgmental, culturally appropriate manner and are accessible to people with disabilities. She noted that the directive emphasizes legal services that are responsive to the lived experiences and needs of Ryan White Part A clients.
The revised directive expands guidance related to advance directives, including assistance with powers of attorney, living wills, health care proxies, trust and estate planning, and Do Not Resuscitate orders. D. Saab also described updates related to benefits coordination, which include comprehensive legal advocacy to support client access to Medicaid, Medicare, SSI/SSDI, SNAP, housing assistance programs such as HOPWA and HASA, ACA insurance, and ADAP, with an emphasis on integration with case management and care coordination.
D. Saab highlighted strengthened guidance on immigration assistance, including legal advocacy to support clients in obtaining PRUCOL status to facilitate access to HASA and Medicaid, as well as the use of warm handoffs and closed-loop referrals to trusted, free or low-cost immigration legal resources. Additional updates addressed housing justice, including eviction prevention, arrears negotiation, access to supportive and subsidized housing, succession rights, and other housing-related legal advocacy.
The presentation also outlined expanded guidance on anti-discrimination and civil rights, including representation related to discrimination based on HIV status, disability, employment, housing, health care, education, and breaches of medical privacy, such as violations of HIPAA. Updates related to family law and permanency planning were reviewed, including legal services addressing family offense matters, orders of protection, custody and visitation, child support, guardianship, permanency planning, adoption, and support for diverse family structures, including LGBTQIA+ families.
D. Saab further described updates related to other civil legal needs, including legal advocacy for consumer debt, bankruptcy, identity theft, elder fraud and financial exploitation, tax issues, insurance disputes, assistance for survivors of sexual assault or human trafficking, reentry following incarceration, criminal record expungement, and legal name and identification changes.
The directive also encourages the use of tele-legal services and home-based legal service delivery models to reduce access barriers and support clients with complex health, mobility, safety, privacy, or caregiving needs. D. Saab noted that providers are encouraged to engage in community outreach and education, including mobile and community-based outreach and HIV-specific “Know Your Rights” education.
Finally, the presentation emphasized the importance of medical-legal partnerships, including co-location or embedded legal services and the use of warm handoffs and closed-loop referrals to ensure legal services are integrated into a broader, wraparound system of care.
Ms. Saab concluded by noting that the revised Legal Services directive will continue through the Planning Council review and approval process, including Executive Committee consideration and subsequent Planning Council action.
A vote was held on the revised Legal Services directive as presented. With 11 votes in favor and no votes opposed, the NYC Legal Services directive was approved.
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D. Saab noted that the revised Legal Services directive will continue through the Planning Council review process, including Executive Committee consideration and subsequent Planning Council approval steps.
The committee agreed to reconvene with meeting in March.
The Next Steering Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 10-11:30 AM.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
