Meeting of the
HIV HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCIL
OF NEW YORK
Thursday, July 23, 2026
3:05-5:00pm
By Zoom Videoconference
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: D. Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), D. Martin (Community Co-chair), B. Fields (Finance Officer), G. Angelopoulos, V. Bell, J. Benitez, R. Brown, M. Caponi, P. Carr, L. Cyrus, J. Dudley, J. Edwards, L. Francis, M. Gilborn, J. Goldenbridge, C. Gomez, C. Graham, S. Hemraj, E. Kaywin, K. Laveille, J. Louis, DDS, M. Maia Soares, J, Natt, C. Nuñez, J. Palmer, J. Robles, M. Rodriguez, L. Sabashvili, J. Sanchez, J. Schoepp, M. Sedlacek, PhD, S. Spiegler (for G. Plummer, ex-officio), S. Stallings, D. Tider, A. Tomlin, G. Ty, L. Worrell
Members Absent: R. Babakhanian, M. Bacon, M. Baney, A. Betancourt, V. Decamps, R. Ford, R. Henderson, N. Martin, L. F. Molano, MD, B. Montes, S. Safo, MD
Staff Present: DOHMH: A. Martin, MD, MPP, A. Howard, MD, MS, S. Braunstein, PhD, D. Saab, L. Moya Adames, A. Omeyoma, A. Eppinger-Meiering, T. Leong-Pelrine, R. James, A. Phi, H. K. Muk; Public Health Solutions (PHS): A. Shahi; CHAIN: A. Aidala
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by introductions and a roll call and a moment of silence. The minutes of the June 25, 2026 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: Public Comment, Part I
Mr. Schoepp informed the Council that there is a SNAP-related scam that recipients need to be aware of.
Agenda Item #3: Remarks from NYC Health Commissioner Alister Martin
Mr. Klotz introduced NYC Commissioner of Health Alister Martin. Dr. Martin is an emergency physician and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and served a health policy advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris. He is CEO of A Healthier Democracy, has his medical and master’s degrees from Harvard University, and is a Queens native.
Dr. Martin thanked the Council for their essential work, noting the importance of government and community partnership in community planning. He pledged to continue the Department’s support of the Council, noting some of the Council’s recent accomplishments, as well as ongoing challenges related to the difficult federal funding and policy environment. He also acknowledged Mr. Martin’s leadership as Community Co-chair and the work of the Council staff to support the community planning process.
In response to questions, Dr. Martin discussed the DOHMH strategy to address the challenges posed by the new Medicaid work requirements. A hotline/portal for Medicaid recipients is also in the works. The agency has begun a campaign to help people keep their benefits or gain access to alternative coverage. He also discussed his openness to expanding the kind of community input that the Council pioneered to other health programs. He stressed the importance of being proactive in the face of federal government attacks on public health and finding new funding streams to support this essential work.
Agenda Item #4: Recipient Report
Ms. Eppinger-Meiering reported on Zero HIV Stigma Day, observed on July 21, part of a global awareness campaign designed to challenge the impact of stigma. On July 16, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) posted a Dear Colleague Letter on the importance of addressing the nutritional needs of people with HIV (PWH). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2024 National HIV Prevention and Care Outcomes, a document that presents data on key indicators used to monitor national HIV prevention and care outcomes. US HHS released updated federal HIV treatment guidelines to address new recommendations on cardiovascular disease prevention for PWH.
On July 7, PHS, on behalf of DOHMH, released the RWPA Food and Meals Services, Medical Nutrition Therapy Services, and Legal Services for PWH in NYC Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals are due Sept
15 for programs starting March 1, 2027. The Quality Management and Program Implementation Unit (QMPI) held a multi-day Orientation to Care Coordination in NYC on June 22-25, and on July 15, the first Linking Minds – Improving Care workshop of the year took place. On July 28, the 2026 RWPA All Provider Meeting will occur and will include a presentation from Mx. Kaywin, Mr. Ford and Ms. Moya Adames on the Council’s Recommendations for Ensuring Safe Access to Services for Immigrants.
DOHMH BHHS updates include: a 2025 HIV surveillance midyear report, updated webpages on HIV treatment, a hepatitis C palm card, participation in events to mark National HIV Prevention Day and National Latino Older Adults HIV Awareness Day, and a policy advocacy workshop for ACT-UP NY.
Agenda Item #5: GY 2027 Application Spending Plan
Ms. Gilborn presented the spending request for the GY 2027 grant application. HRSA allows EMAs to request a maximum 5% increase over the current award. For 2027, for the first time, Food & Nutrition Services are broken out into two separate categories, as per the PC-approved service directive: Food/Meals (non-core service) and Medical Nutritional Therapy (core). Both NYC and Tri-county food programs will have separate Food/Meals and MNT programs starting March 1, 2027. Both PSRA and the TC Steering Committee received a cost analysis from the Recipient on the new food programs. In order to keep the same level of food/meals programs in each region, plus fund three MNT programs in NYC and one MNT program in TC, permanent enhancements to these categories will be required. The PSRA Committee is recommending that NYC apply an increase of $1,631,248 to food programs. TC would receive an enhancement of $358,125.
PSRA also received a presentation from the DOHMH HIV Housing program, which provides short-term housing, housing placement assistance and rental assistance. According to their analysis, current programs can absorb additional funds to cover increased costs due to rising rents and operational costs. PSRA is recommending enhancements to Housing of $581,561 in Base funds and $153,544 in MAI funds. The balance of a theoretical 5% increase would be put into the ADAP category in both Base and MAI. This is based on the likely increase in demand due to people losing their Medicaid or ACA coverage.
In the winter, PSRA will conduct its scenario planning process for the final grant award. In the event of close to flat funding, the Food and Housing enhancements will be viable by reallocating funds from the Early Intervention Services category, which is the lowest ranked in the portfolio.
Ms. Gilborn made a motion on behalf of the PSRA Committee to approve the GY 2027 Application Spending Plan as presented. The motion was adopted 34Y-0N.
Agenda Item #6: Election of Council Officers
Mr. Klotz reviewed the roles and responsibilities of Community Co-chair and Finance Officer. Mr. Hemraj was the sole nominee for Finance Officer and was elected by acclamation to a two-year term beginning September 1, 2026. Mr. Hemraj thanked the Council and pledged to continue the excellent work of his predecessor, Mr. Fields.
There were three nominees for Community Co-chair: Ms. Bell, Mr. Maia and Mr. Natt. Each candidate gave a brief statement on why they want to serve in the role. A vote was taken electronically and Mr. Natt was elected to a two-year term beginning September 1, 2026. Mr. Klotz thanked all three candidates, stating that all are exemplary leaders. Mr. Natt thanked the Council for their trust and pledged to continue the outstanding work of his predecessor, Mr. Martin.
Agenda Item #7: Review of 2025-26 Planning Council Accomplishments
Mr. Klotz presented an overview of the Council’s accomplishments over the 2025-26 planning cycle in a graphic designed by Ms. Saab. Highlights included: the onboarding of 11 new members, the addition of Ms. Moya Adames to the Council staff, the Consumers Committee’s Immigrant Health Survey, the Needs Assessment Committee’s updated recommendations on serving immigrants, the PSRA Committee’s spending plans, the Integration of Care Committee’s updated service directives, the Tri-County Steering Committee’s updated directives and spending plans, the feedback and concurrence with the 2027-31 Statewide HIV Integrated Prevention and Care Plan, and extensive community outreach by Mr. Omeyoma (which resulted in a record number of applications for Council membership).
Mr. Klotz extolled the Council members for their dedication to this essential work, particularly the people with HIV who bring their lived experience. He also lauded the Council staff for their outstanding work supporting the Council. On behalf of the Council, he thanked the Recipient staff for their outstanding support, as well as other partners in the Council’s work. Council members expressed their gratitude for the work of their colleagues and the Council and Recipient staff.
Agenda Item #8: Recognition of Retiring Members
Mr. Klotz paid tribute to the Council members whose terms end on August 31, 2026: Mr. Baney, Mr. Brown, Mr. Caponi, Ms. Decamps, Mr. Fields, Ms. Gilborn and Mr. Martin.
Special tribute was paid to Ms. Gilborn for her outstanding leadership as co-chair of the PSRA Committee, where her mastery of the process and ability to explain it to the Council ensured that all members were included in the Council’s core function.
Special tribute was paid to Mr. Fields, whose commitment to the Council over many years, most recently as Finance Officer, has contributed immeasurably to the Council’s success. His willingness to travel anywhere, and his advocacy for people with disabilities, made him a stellar ambassador from the Council to the community.
Finally, a special tribute was paid to Mr. Martin, a true leader whose inclusive, insightful and inspiring leadership was essential to the Council’s success. His ability to ensure meaningful participation, particularly of PWH, his deft facilitation skills and his tireless advocacy was at the heart of the Council’s work.
Mr. Martin gave a moving statement thanking the Council for the opportunity to be a leader and part of the Council community. He stressed the importance of inclusion of all people of lived experience, thanked the support staff at DOHMH and at provider agencies for their allyship, and expressed his sincere gratitude for the work of the Council and community.
Agenda Item #9: Public Comment, Part II
Mr. Palmer noted that temporary protected status ends tomorrow for thousands of Haitians in the US. There is a large concentration of Haitians in Rockland County who are under threat. He circulated a New Americans Hotline for assistance (800-566-7636).
Ms. Gomez announced an upcoming seminarfor renters regarding the recently approved freeze by the Rent Guidelines Board.
Dr. Aidala announced a new effort by the CHAIN study to recruit participants and encouraged people who work at provider agencies to help spread the word.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
