Tri-County Steering Committee Minutes June 11, 2025

TRI-COUNTY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

June 11 2025, 10:00am-11:38 am

By Zoom Videoconference

DRAFT MINUTES

Members Present:       J. Palmer (Co-chair), L., Cyrus (Co-chair), V. Alvarez, M. Diaz., L M. Acevedo, R. Agarwal, L. Best, J. Braithwaite, L. Bucknor, V. Carlone, J. Gago, P. Germinaro, J. Gobler, K. Scott, S. Thomas

Members Absent:      D. Anderson, A. Contreras, L. Hakim, A. Hardman, K. Palencia-Lua, K. Mandel, B. Malloy, A. Milian, A. Pizarro, L. Reid, A. Ruggiero, P. Tang G. Thomas

Guest and other

PC Members Present:  M. Maia, J. Hartigan

Staff Present:                  NYC DOHMH: D. Klotz, D. Saab, M. Navejas, A. Omeyoma, J. Acosta, S. Kramer, S. Spiegler

Agenda Item # 1-2: Roll Call/Moment of Silence

Julian P. and LaShonda C. opened the meeting with a roll call of members followed by a moment of silence.

Agenda Item #3: Meeting Minutes

The minutes for May 14^th, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.

Agenda Item #4: Public Comment

Marcelo M. expressed concern about HIV funds being cut without scientific backing and noted the removal of CDC vaccine panel members by RFK Jr. as an example of science being undermined at the Federal level.

Agenda Item #4: Updates

Consumer Update

Recipient Report

Sara K. provided announcements related to federal agency and local program developments.

• May 19 marked National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, highlighting disparities, stigma, and the need for culturally relevant HIV testing and care in Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
• Hepatitis Awareness Month and National Hepatitis Testing Day (May 19) raised awareness about hepatitis A, B, and C—emphasizing the importance of testing and treatment, especially for people with HIV, who are often co-affected.
• CDC released their 2023 HIV Surveillance report, highlighting new HIV diagnoses and HIV care outcomes data among various demographic groups.
• In response to the White House’s FY2026 “skinny budget,” NASTAD issued a strong critique, citing proposed cuts to essential HIV and hepatitis programs, including the elimination of RWHAP Part F and consolidation of HOPWA and CDC infectious disease funding streams.

Ryan White Part A Program Updates

• The Recipient received a second partial award for Grant Year 2025, totaling over $40 million. In May, the HIV Care and Treatment Program released updated Agency-level Viral Suppression Reports (AVSRs) that incorporate Tri-County data for the first time. These reports enable providers to assess suppression rates by subgroup and support targeted engagement strategies.
• The Planning Council approved six new RWHAP Part A service standards, now available online, which outline core expectations for service delivery across the NY EMA.
• Additionally, Public Health Solutions released a concept paper outlining three priority areas for the forthcoming Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) RFP: Be Into Health, Enhanced Data to Care, and Expanded Emergency Financial Assistance. Proposals are expected in August 2025, with programs launching in March 2026.

Upcoming Events & Quality Initiatives

• 2025 Annual Provider Meeting: Scheduled for July 29 at Baruch College. Sessions will include workshops on QI, data, and consumer-led initiatives.
• Quality Improvement Activities: April’s QM Committee launched the 2025 training season, reviewed 2024 meeting evaluations, and shared new QI templates and methods.
• Behavioral Health Trainings: Continued in-person and virtual trainings on evidence-based interventions and data entry for new service categories.

Community Engagement & Public Health Campaigns

• Bronx Anti-Stigma Rally (May 8): BHHS joined partners and Bronx officials to confront HIV/hepatitis stigma.
• City Hall Hepatitis Awareness Event (May 15): BHHS participated in an event hosted by Hep Free NYC alongside city leaders to highlight testing and care.
• EmpowHER Concept Paper Released: PHS issued a paper on a forthcoming RFP for strengthening HIV prevention and women’s sexual health services.

Planning Council and Federal Administration Update

David K. announced that the Council is in the final two months of the planning cycle (June and July). The Priority Setting and Resource Allocation Committee (PSRA) finalized a Carryover Plan to be approved by the full Council later this month. The Recipient has significantly improved its spending performance, with the lowest level of underspending since COVID-19.

• By the end of 2024, only $1.37 million remained unexpended.
• All carryover funds must be used exclusively for program services and must be spent by February 28th, once HRSA gives approval (typically by Sept/Oct).

The one-time enhancement funds include:

• $699,000 in base funds directed to Food & Nutrition Services in both NYC and the Tri-County area.
• $674,000 in MAI funds allocated to the ADA (Access to Direct Assistance) Program, which serves the entire EMA.

This represents $1 million less in underspending than in 2023. David K. commended the Recipient for strong fiscal management and reduced carryover levels year-over-year.

He also announced that the next Council meeting is scheduled for June 26^th, and will include a presentation from the NYS AIDS Institute on the next Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan (IHPCP) for 2027–2031 – a federally mandated plan (HRSA + CDC) requires every jurisdiction to submit a 5-year roadmap. The presentation will outline their plan and community engagement sessions across the state, including all three Tri-County areas. David K. shared that the deadline for applications to the Planning Council (for the September 1 term start) is Friday, June 13th.

The Consumer’s Committee (CC) will meet hybrid on June 17^th, with transportation provided for TCSC consumer members. The main agenda item will be preparing for the annual Quality Management Provider meeting at the end of July, the CC has been invited to lead a workshop on Client Advisory Boards (CABs) and their role in enhancing service quality and consumer voice. Tablets will be distributed to consumers to improve participation in virtual meetings.

The Integration of Care Committee is revising the Food & Nutrition Services Directive in anticipation of a future rebid for the service category in NYC.

Agenda Item #5: GY 2024 Closeout Report

Scott S. presented the GY 2024 closeout expenditure report for Tri-County services. He reported that this year marks the lowest level of underspending since 2019. He began with an update on ADAP’s initial allocations are intentionally low and restored later. Turning to Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) he explained that spending is currently at 76%. The program experienced prolonged understaffing and delays due to a merger, but hiring is underway. Once re-procurement takes place, the EFA program will again be managed as two separate entities—one for NYC and one for Tri-County—which was its original structure before the pandemic. This separation will help streamline operations.

Scott S. also addressed medical transportation spending, which is at 85%. Parking vouchers are not being used due to an increase in free parking and changes in transportation needs. Medicaid approval delays continue to impact clients, and since Ryan White Part A is a payer of last resort, services must wait for Medicaid denial before proceeding. Taxi and ambulette vouchers may become the preferred alternative moving forward.

Regarding legal services in Tri-County, Scott shared that spending is at 73%. The program has faced challenges in identifying clients and staffing positions, which has affected service delivery. The current legal caseload is very low, with only three active cases reported in the last month. The services have primarily focused on housing-related legal support, such as eviction prevention. The program has been encouraged to work more closely with HOPWA in the New York EMA to increase outreach and client engagement. Quality management and technical assistance are being provided as needed.

Scott S. concluded by noting that overall spending in Tri-County is strong and stable. While there are some minor underspending issues, programs are effectively delivering services and drawing down funds.

Agenda Item #6: Tri-County GY 2026 Application Spending Plan

Doienne S. introduced the annual Planning Council process of requesting an increase in the Ryan White Part A grant allocation. Each spring, the TCSC can typically requests a 5% increase over the prior year’s award to enhance program services. For the upcoming Grant Year 2026, a similar request is being proposed. This spending plan does not affect current allocations but serves as a formal request to HRSA to enhance program services if the NY EMA were to get a 5% increase in federal funding for the upcoming cycle. Given the concerns of recent inflation, rising costs in housing and food, and potential federal spending cuts to programs such as HOPWA and SNAP. The committee voted to submit a spending request to HRSA for a 5% increase in federal funding—totaling $223,491—to equally enhance the Food and Nutrition and Housing service categories (14 – Yes, 0 – NO)

Agenda Item #7: HIV and Aging Pilot Overview

John Hartigan, representing the NYS AIDS Institute, delivered a presentation on the State’s efforts to support individuals aging with HIV. He introduced the HIV and Aging Pilot, a $20 million initiative spanning five years and involving ten funded agencies, including Westchester Medical Center, which serves the Tri-County area. The initiative focuses on HIV and aging-specific care e.g., polypharmacy management, neurocognitive health, social support groups, and memory care. Now in its third year, the pilot has enrolled over 800 participants, and John H. highlighted the active involvement of consumers in shaping programming. He emphasized the importance of training healthcare providers to address the distinct needs of older adults living with HIV.

He also shared updates on new and upcoming educational materials addressing sexual health and aging.

Continuing his presentation, John H. described efforts to bridge HIV and aging service sectors through the New York Connects collaboration. These efforts include outreach to local aging networks, such as Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and Independent Living Centers (ILCs), alongside HIV service providers. Joint education sessions have been conducted to improve provider knowledge of HIV and aging and to address concerns around confidentiality.

The collaboration aims to enhance referrals, foster shared learning, and ensure consistent care for older people living with HIV. John H. highlighted the importance of the LGBTQ Bill of Rights, which prohibits discrimination in long-term care facilities, and discussed future plans for regional meetings and HIV 101 training sessions for aging service providers.

TCSC members, including Victor A. and Lisa Best, shared reflections and recommendations following the presentation. They stressed the importance of sustained consumer engagement in shaping HIV and aging services and advocated for improved education for providers working with long-term survivors. Their insights underscored the value of survivor experiences in influencing care practices.

There was collective support for ongoing discussions and future guest presentations. John H. expressed enthusiasm for continued collaboration and proposed that representatives from Cornerstone and Westchester Medical Center be invited to present on their local HIV and aging initiatives at upcoming TCSC meetings.

Adjournment

The next meeting will occur on July 9^th, 2025, from 10 – 11:30 am.

There being no further business, the meeting was­­ adjourned.