HIV HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING COUNCIL
OF NEW YORK
Thursday, July 24, 2025
3:05-4:50pm
By Zoom Videoconference
DRAFT MINUTES
Members Present: D. Klotz (Governmental Co-chair), D. Martin (Community Co-chair), B. Fields (Finance Officer), R. Brown, P. Carr, V. Decamps, J. Dudley, J. Edwards, R. Ford, R. Fortunato, L. Francis, M. Gilborn, J. Goldenbridge, S. Hemraj, R. Henderson, M. Maia Soares, L. F. Molano, MD, B. Montes, J, Natt, C. Nuñez, J. Palmer, G. Plummer (ex-officio), L. Richberg, M. Rodriguez, L. Sabashvili, J. Schoepp, M. Sedlacek, S. Stallings, T. Troia A. Tomlin
Members Absent: R. Babakhanian, M. Bacon, M. Baney, G. Bruckno, M. Caponi, L. Cyrus, E. Kaywin, W. LaRock, N. Martin, H. Martinez, S. Safo, MD, G. Ty
Staff Present: DOHMH: S. Braunstein, PhD, A. Guzman, D. Saab, M. Navejas, A. Eppinger-Meiering, J. Acosta, S. Kramer, A. Omeyoma, T. Leong-Pelrine, P. Padgen; Public Health Solutions: B. Silver, A. Shahi, G. Ashby-Barclay; CHAIN: A. Aidala, PhD
Agenda Item #1: Welcome/Introductions/Minutes/Announcements
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz opened the meeting followed by a roll call and a moment of silence in memory of Jairo Pedraza, who served as the first Council Community Co-chair and had a huge impact in the HIV community. The minutes from the June 26, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2: Recipient Report
Ms. Kramer reported updates from HRSA and other federal partners, including observance of Zero HIV Stigma Day and the 35th anniversary of the Ryan White program. Also, HRSA announced that the TargetHIV website, which has many HIV tools and resources, is defunct and will be replaced with a new site eventually. There were also updates on new CDC state HIV prevention profiles and the release of a new long-acting injectable for PrEP.
The EMA is still waiting for HRSA to issue the final notice of award with the balance of GY 2025 funds. The GY 2024 carryover has been approved. The annual RWPA Quality Improvement Provider Meeting is on July 29th and will include a workshop from the Consumers Committee on client advisory boards. The NYS AIDS Institute is also implementing capacity building sessions and coaching with subrecipients to help develop methods and efforts to assure quality in delivery of services.
Governor Hochul’s Master Plan for Aging was described, as well as the recently approved NYC budget, which allocates $11,339,653 for the HIV/AIDS Pathways to Care Initiative (formerly, the Ending the Epidemic Initiative and HIV/AIDS Faith Community-Based Initiative) and $2,247,454 for the Viral Hepatitis Initiative. Finally, DOHMH Pride-related activities were reported.
Agenda Item #3: Election for Community Co-chair
Mr. Klotz explained the process for election of Community Co-chair. Dr. Molano described the duties of the Community Co-chair as outlined in the Council’s bylaws. One nomination was received, for Mr. Martin. There was a call for additional nominations. There being none received, Mr. Martin was elected by acclamation.
Mr. Martin read a statement thanking the Council for their work and affirming his commitment to supporting the Council’s mission and working to address the needs of people living with HIV.
Agenda Item #4: GY 2026 Application Spending Request
Ms. Gilborn explained that that every year, the Priority Setting & Resource Allocation Committee (PSRA) develops a spending request for the next year’s grant application. HRSA allows EMAs to request a maximum 5% increase over the current award. HRSA has informed EMAs that the balance of the GY 2025 award will be received by the end of this month. National appropriations for this year were kept at same level as 2024, so the total award for the current year should be in the same ballpark as GY 2024. In February, the PC-approved scenario plan will cover any potential reduction to the award through savings in carrying costs and an upfront reduction to ADAP. PSRA’s spending plans assume level service category allocations (with some modifications approved by the Council in February, which David will describe). The plans use a formula, and the exact numbers will be adjusted when the balance of the current year’s award is received.
The PSRA developed its plan with some uncertainty about next year’s funding. The line item appropriations for the GY 2026 federal budget will be considered by Congress in September, based on the recently passed large tax and budget bill. We should know then about possible drastic cuts to various federal programs that will impact Ryan White. One possibility is the elimination of Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) funding. PSRA approved an MAI plan in the event that funding still be available. In development of the spending request, PSRA considered other possible reductions in federal programs, including HOPWA and SNAP, as well as recently approved rent increases for rent controlled apartments.
Mr. Klotz explained the adjustments to the GY 2025 spending plan approved by the Council last February that will be implemented regardless of the final award:
- Addition of $1.2M to Housing
- Reduction of $392K to Non-Medical Case Management
- Reduction of $193K to Psychosocial Support Services
- Redistribution of Behavioral Health category allocations
In addition, for GY 2026, $250K of Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) funds are moved from NYC to Tri-County (TC) to implement the Council’s directive that two separate programs be funded.
The PSRA-approved GY 2026 Spending Plans allocate a 5% theoretical increase as follows:
- Tri-County Plan (developed by the TC Steering Committee): allocates a potential 5% increase evenly to Housing and Food and Nutrition Services.
- NYC MAI Plan: allocates all of a potential 5% increase to Housing.
- NYC Base: allocates the theoretical 5% increase in NYC Base programs to Housing, FNS and EFA proportionately weighted by ranking score.
Ms. Gilborn, on behalf of the PSRA Committee, moved to approve the GY 2026 application spending request as presented. The motion was adopted 23Y-0N.
Agenda Item #5: HIV Policy Update
Mr. Guzman presented on the potential funding changes to federal HIV and safety net programs, explaining
the budget process. In May, the White House released its FY 2026 “skinny budget”, an outline of priorities, which called for consolidating a number of programs in the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), including CDC STI TB and hepatitis programs. The consolidation called for the complete elimination of Ryan White Part F (dental, AETC and SPNS). The plan called for HOPWA (under US HUD) to be merged into broader housing block grants for “at-risk” people. A subsequent “Budget in Brief” outlined large cuts to public health funding, including CDC HIV prevention and surveillance programs. The proposal also eliminates all Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) funds, which go to Ryan White and other federal programs. Proposed funding levels for specific HHS and HUD programs will not be available until markup of the House and Senate spending bills, but it is likely that New York City will see significant cuts to federal funding that for decades has supported our HIV efforts and helped to drive progress toward our ending the HIV epidemic goals.
In early July, the large budget and tax bill was enacted, which includes significant changes to Medicaid funding and eligibility (e.g., work requirements), as well as tighter SNAP eligibility. NY State released an analysis showing that these changes will result in more than 2 million New Yorkers losing insurance coverage, uncompensated care costs to hospitals and providers increasing to over $3 billion annually, and 300,000 households losing some or all of their SNAP benefits.
In response to questions, Mr. Guzman explained that there is no precedent for litigation to challenge Congressional appropriations (current litigation regards the administration not spending money already appropriated by Congress). There is still widespread community organizing and education of legislators about the impact of potential cuts. Dr. Aidala added that CHAIN data is available to assist in advocacy and education efforts.
Agenda Item #6: 2024-25 Planning Council Accomplishments
Mr. Klotz reviewed the Council’s accomplishments over the year, including the excellent work of the committees. Highlights include the Consumers Committee’s CAB Town Hall, the Needs Assessment Committee’s recommendations on access to services for priority populations, the Integration of Care Committee’s revised service directives and standards, the PSRA Committee’s spending plans, the Tri-County Steering Committee’s spending plans and service directives, and the Rules & Membership Committee’s appointments process.
Agenda Item #7: Recognition of Retiring Members
Mr. Martin and Mr. Klotz acknowledged retiring Council members. Ms. Fortunato’s six years as a Council member included four years of outstanding leadership as co-chair of the IOC Committee. Ms. Troia’s six years as a Council member comes after having served multiple terms in the past, continuing her involvement since the 1990s, always keeping the concerns of her fellow Staten Islanders in mind. Other members who retired during the year are: Kyron Banks, Bill LaRock, Hondo Martinez, Julio Roman and Steven Wilcox.
Mr. Klotz thanked the Council staff for their outstanding work supporting the community planning process and thanked the Council members and consumers for their dedication.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
