TRI-COUNTY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
March 12, 2025, 10:00-11:30am
By Zoom Videoconference
Members Present: J. Palmer (Co-chair), V. Alvarez, M. Diaz., D. Anderson, L M. Acevedo, R. Agarwal, L. Best, L. Bucknor, V. Carlone, J. Gago, P. Germinaro, J. Gobler, L. Hakim, R. Henderson, B. Malloy, K. Palencia-Lua, A. Pizarro, P. Tang
Members Absent: L. Cyrus (Co-chair), J. Braithwaite, A. Contreras, A. Hardman, K. Mandel, A. Milian, A. Ruggiero, K. Scott, S.Thomas, G. Thomas
Guest and other
PC Members Present: R. Collura, B. Fields
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: D. Klotz, D. Saab, M. Navejas, A. Omeyoma, J. Acosta, S. Kramer
Agenda Item # 1-2: Introductions/Moment of Silence/Minutes
Julian P. opened the meeting followed by introductions and a moment of silence.
Agenda Item #3: Meeting Minutes
The minutes for February 12th, 2025 meeting were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #4: Public Comment
Abraham O. announced that Consumer’s Committee is hosting a Client Advisory Board (CAB) Townhall at the LGBTQ Center on April 15th 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. Steering Committee members and community are encouraged to join the event in-person to learn about best practices on implementing and sustaining a successfully operated CAB. Transportation accommodations will be arranged for members traveling from Tri-County. Breakfast, lunch and metro cards will be provided.
Agenda Item #4: Updates
Consumer Update
| Maria D. expressed that Medicaid transportation continues to be an unreliable mode of transport for consumers. She also shared that consumers are finding that mental health services from transportation are not being covered even after their primary care provider puts in the diagnosis code. Linda H. shared that a consumer may have to be recertified by having their provider fill out the 2015 online form under mental health. Johanna A., the Recipient and Planning Council staff will meet to strategize a solution to addressing consumers’ concerns with Medicaid transportation. Maria D.also mentioned that the frequent occurrences of fall-related incidents continue to be an issue for consumers. Doienne S. will share resources on fall prevention with the steering committee. Victor A. shared that their support group hasn’t received funding to provide lunch. Johanna A. asked Victor A. to send her email so that the issue could be addressed. |
Recipient Report
Johanna A. shared that a partial amount of the grant year 2025 Ryan White Part A (RWPA) partial funding was received, and all funds have since gone into programming. The Recipient anticipates the full award amount to arrive in May.
Planning Council and Federal Administration Update
David K. reported that the Planning Council approved a scenario spending plan for implementing the upcoming full grant award. This includes the Tri-County Steering Committee (TCSC)-approved spending scenario plan, which entails a proportional reduction in funding to the four lowest-ranked service categories should the full award be cut by more than 3.5%.
Currently, Congress is considering another continuing resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year. If passed, this would mean that the government funding levels remain the same as in 2025, ensuring that the overall budget for RWPA funding remains unchanged from the prior year.
So far, Democrats oppose the continuing resolution because it would grant the Executive branch the power to impound funds, meaning the President could withhold money that was originally appropriated by Congress. Given this pollical dynamic, Democrats are resisting efforts to grant more spending control to Republicans.
David K. also shared that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is moving forward with funding level plans and announcing funding opportunities. If the continuing resolution is approved, the RW grant award for our EMA will probably stay approximately level with a possible small reduction in our formula funding. If funding is level or only slightly reduced, the Tri-County region’s funding will be held harmless and we’ll be able to absorb any reduction in the award in the NYC portfolio through savings in the carrying cost of programs.
David K. further announced that the Trump administration is proposing nearly $1 trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts over 10 years. Much of the proposed reduction is in the federal subsidy for Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. NYS Governor Hochul has pledged State funds to continue expanded Medicaid coverage. Additionally, NYC DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse reaffirmed the NYC Health Department’s commitment to providing care for all individuals, while addressing racial disparities in health care access and ensuring that vulnerable communities are not left behind, despite recently issued executive orders.
Agenda Item #5: Annual Presentation of HIV Epi 2023 Data for Lower Hudson Region
Randall Collura, Director of Data Analysis at the NYS Department of Health – AIDS Institute (AI) provided an annual overview of the 2023 HIV/AIDS epidemiological data for the Lower Hudson Valley region (Rockland, Putnam, and Westchester counties).
- Newly Diagnosed HIV
- In 2023, there were 134 persons newly diagnosed with HIV (10.5%).
- The largest number of persons newly diagnosed with HIV (outside of NYC) are clustered in the larger cities/more densely populated areas of the state.
- By County (2019-2023): Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties saw variations in new HIV cases, with Westchester consistently reporting the highest numbers. The AI is trying to understand these trends, with no concluded reason to describe this variability.
- Demographic breakdown of New HIV Diagnoses
- By race and ethnicity, Non-Hispanic Black (42%, n=57) and Hispanic (35%, n=47) had the largest proportion of new cases in the lower Hudson Valley region.
- By age, the highest numbers of newly diagnosed were in the 30-39 and 20-29 age groups.
- By transmission category, newly diagnosed HIV was higher among men who have sex with men.
- For concurrent diagnoses, the percentage of person diagnosed with HIV and AIDS at the same time increased from 19% in 2020 to 35% in 2023. This increase could be related to an increase number of HIV tests administered following the 2020 COVID-19 statewide pause.
- By sex at birth, cisgender men are 73% of newly diagnosed with HIV, in comparison to cisgender women at 27%.
- Persons Living with HIV
- The total number of persons in the region living with HIV in 2023 were n=3,543.
- By gender, 67% were assigned male at birth.
- By age, most were in the 50-59 and 40-49 age groups.
- By racial/ethnicity disparities, Non-Hispanic Black represent 42% of newly diagnosed with HIV, despite being 12% of the population of the region. Disparities continue to be persistent barrier for certain non-White populations.
- HIV diagnosis rates were higher in populations of individuals living in poverty in NYS (not including NYC).
- There is a higher prevalence of person living with diagnosed HIV (excludes NYC) in the following cities: Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains, Port Chester, Ossining, Peekskill, Spring Valley, and Nyack.
- The prevalence rate of those living with HIV is higher in the Lower Hudson valley region than rest of State.
- HIV Care Continuum
- 83% of newly diagnosed persons entered care within 30 days.
- 94% entered care within 91 days of diagnosis – AI is looking to improve how to get people into care e.g., unstable housing and mental health may be barriers for those that don’t make it into timely care.
- Of those living with HIV who are virally suppressed, 90% have received some form of HIV care, while 83% were virally suppressed by the end of the year (2023).
- There are 4,050 estimated persons living with HIV; 3,370 (92%) are aware of their status; 3,300 received HIV care during the year; 3,100 cases with viral suppression in the year.
Agenda Item #6: Adjournment
The steering committee thanked Randall Collura for presenting the annual HIV epi data for the lower Hudson Valley region. David K. mentioned that the committee will begin revising service directives next month and through the remainder of the planning year.
The next meeting will occur on April 9th, 2025, from 10 – 11:30 am. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
