Meeting of the
HIV HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCIL
OF NEW YORK
Thursday, October 30, 2025
3:00-4:50pm
By Zoom Videoconference
M I N U T E S
Members Present: D. Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), D. Martin (Community Co-chair), B. Fields (Finance Officer), G. Angelopoulos, R. Babakhanian, V. Bell, J. Benitez, A. Betancourt, R. Brown, P. Carr, L. Cyrus, J. Dudley, L. Francis, M. Gilborn, J. Goldenbridge, C. Gomez, C. Graham, S. Hemraj, R. Henderson, E. Kaywin, J. Louis, DDS, M. Maia Soares, N. Martin, L. F. Molano, MD, B. Montes, J, Natt, C. Nuñez, J. Palmer, G. Plummer (ex-officio), L. Richberg, J. Robles, M. Rodriguez, L. Sabashvili, S. Safo, MD, J. Sanchez, J. Schoepp, M. Sedlacek, S. Stallings, D. Tider, A. Tomlin, G. Ty, L. Worrell
Members Absent: M. Bacon, M. Baney, G. Bruckno, M. Caponi, V. Decamps, J. Edwards, R. Ford
Staff Present: DOHMH: S. Braunstein, PhD, A. Guzman, D. Saab, M. Navejas, L. Moya Adames, A. Omeyoma, A. Ramirez, S. Spiegler, A. Eppinger-Meiering, S. Kramer, P. Padgen, R. James, H. K. Muk; Public Health Solutions: A. Shahi; CHAIN: A. Aidala, PhD
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Announcements
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by introductions and a moment of silence. Mr. Klotz thanked Ms. Richberg, who is cycling off the Council, for her service. The minutes from the July 24, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Dr. Braunstein, DOHMH Acting Deputy Commissioner of Disease Control, offered welcome remarks to the Council, affirming the essential work of the Council in partnership with DOHMH to advance the cause of ending the HIV epidemic and addressing the challenging funding and policy environment.
Mr. Martin offered inspiring words to the new and returning Council members, thanking them for their commitment and offering words of encouragement as the Council works towards reaching the ending the HIV epidemic goals in a time of adversity and threats to funding and the communities we serve.
Agenda Item #2: Public Comment
Mr. Palmer raised the issue of the potential loss of SNAP benefits on November 1st due to the federal government shutdown. 2.9 million people in New York State would be affected, putting severe burdens on local food pantries. The issue was discussed in more detail during the Policy Update.
Dr. Molano announced that Community Healthcare Network is continuing its commitment to gender affirming care.
Agenda Item #3: Recipient Report
Ms. Eppinger-Meiering reported updates from HRSA and other federal partners, including marking the 35th anniversary of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, National Latinx HIV Awareness Day, and National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, which highlights the growing population of people with HIV aged 50 years and older and the unique needs and challenges. HRSA also published an emergency preparedness guide for people with HIV in the event of natural disasters and emergency situations.
On July 24, HRSA released the final RWHAP Part A award for the New York Eligible Metropolitan Area (NY EMA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The EMA received a total approved funding amount of $89,662,231 (previously reported to the Council).
On August 11th, Public Health Solutions (PHS) on behalf DOHMH released the RWPA Care Coordination Services, Outpatient Ambulatory Services, and Emergency Financial Services Request for Proposals (RFP) for NYC. This funding opportunity will fund 17 Care Coordination subawards at $21,096,845 (Base and MAI), with up to three applicants having the option to enhance their Care Coordination Services by applying to provide Outpatient Ambulatory Services to People Aging with HIV for an additional total of $1,333,800 annually. The RFP also includes the opportunity to fund one RWHAP Part A Emergency Financial subaward in NYC at a total of $ 1,349,825 annually.
Last month, the Recipient released an updated NYC Health webpage on the housing services available for people with HIV and their household members in New York, which include a comprehensive overview of the RWHAP Part A and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs. The Recipient also recently submitted two reporting requirements to HRSA that are integral to the management of RWPA funding: FY 2026 Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) Progress Report, and the Program Terms Report.
The 2025 Annual RWPA NY EMA Quality Management Provider Meeting took place on July 29th with the theme “Cultivating Strength: Growing Together in Community.” The event included a workshop conducted by the Council’s Consumers Committee on the utilization of client advisory boards for quality improvement. On July 21st, BHHS hosted its second annual Zero HIV Stigma Day, bringing together over 100 attendees to advance health equity and disrupt HIV-related stigma in care settings.
Agenda Item #4: 2025-26 Draft Council and Committee Workplans
Mr. Klotz reviewed the draft workplan for the Council, noting the major milestones that will be addressed during the 2025-26 planning cycle, including spending plans, service directives, expenditure reports and presentations (including Epidemiology and Surveillance, Quality Management Plan, Statewide Integrated Plan and other updates). Service directives to be approved in the coming months include the NYC Food & Nutrition Services and most of the Tri-County portfolio. The PSRA Committee workplan was also reviewed, showing the timeline for the GY 2026 spending scenario plan, GY 2026 Reprogramming Plan, GY 2025 Carryover Plan, and the GY 2027 Application Spending Request.
Mr. Navejas reviewed the workplan for the Consumers Committee, which has had or will have several presentations (Medicaid update, HIV stigma) and will decide at their next meeting on a main topic of focus. There will also be follow up on the work done in the previous cycle on client advisory boards. Ms. Adames reviewed the workplan for the Needs Assessment Committee, which has chosen access to care for newly arrived New Yorkers as its next topic of focus, with other potential topics including digital determinants of health and long COVID and HIV. Ms. Saab reviewed the workplan for the Integration of Care Committee, which will next update the directive for Legal Services, followed by Psychosocial Support Services. She also reviewed the Tri-County Steering Committee’s workplan, which includes completion of the revised service directives, a GY 2026 spending scenario plan and presentations on topics including an epidemiology update.
Agenda Item #5: HIV Policy Update
Mr. Guzman presented updates on the 2026 Federal Budget, HIV and STI Policy changes, health systems policy updates and 2025 General Election Information. He reviewed the federal budget timeline and the budgets proposed by the White House and Congress. The House of Representatives passed a budget that cuts $360M (18%) from all Ryan White Parts, as well as eliminates all CDC HIV prevention and MAI funding. The Senate version flat funds most programs. The inability to pass a final budget resulted in a government shutdown on October 1st, which continues indefinitely. The shutdown is the result of disagreement on various health care provisions, particularly federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums. A breakdown of DOHMH federal funding for HIV, STI and hepatitis was given (RWPA is by far the largest grant). The agency will lose $35M in CDC HIV prevention and surveillance funding, meaning less access to HIV testing, treatment and increased HIV transmission and preventable health care costs. DOHMH actions to protect federal funding were described and the agency is closely monitoring the situation and communicating with community partners and contractors.
In the ensuing discussion, it was noted that case managers need to reach out to clients who need food or cash assistance. HASA is already in contact with clients and is working to get accurate information out about benefits. New York State has allocated some funds to support SNAP clients who lost benefits (e.g., through Nourish NY), but the amount is very small. There is a court case now that could force the government to continue providing SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
Agenda Item #6: Public Comment, Part II
Mr. Schoepp thanked Febuary D’Auria from the NYSDOH AIDS Institute for moving a Quality Management listening session to accommodate Consumers Committee members who wanted to attend.
Mr. Hemraj noted that the new Medicaid work requirements will have a big impact on RWPA clients and might merit a special presentation to the Council.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Minutes approved by the HIV Planning Council on December 4, 2025
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David Klotz
Governmental Co-chair
