TRI-COUNTY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
November 13, 2024, 10:00-11:30am
By Zoom Videoconference
Members Present: L. Cyrus (Co-chair), J. Palmer (Co-chair), V. Alvarez, M. Diaz., L M. Acevedo, R. Agarwal, D. Anderson, L. Best, J. Braithwaite, L. Bucknor, V. Carlone, J. Gago, P. Germinaro, A. Milian, K. Palencia-Lua, A. Pizarro, L. Reid
Members Absent: A. Contreras , A. Desir, L. Hakim, A. Hardman, A. Ruggiero, B. Malloy, L. Francis, J. Gobler, K. Scott, S.Thomas
Guest Present: M. Yomogida
Staff Present: NYC DOHMH: D. Klotz, D. Saab, M. Navejas, G. Dominguez-Plummer, J. Acosta, S. Kramer, A. Eppinger-meiering, K. Mack, N. Harris
Agenda Item # 1-3: Opening/Moment of Silence/Minutes/Public Comment
Julian P. and LaShonda C. opened the meeting followed by introductions and a moment of silence. Acknowledgement was made to the newest co-chair and members of the steering committee. The minutes for July 10th, 2024 meeting were approved.
Maiko Y. provided updates on CHAIN study recruitment efforts in the region and announced that the Technical Review Team (TRT) is currently members from Tri-County to participate in their monthly meetings with the NY HIV Planning Council.
During public comment Lisa Best expressed the need for more consumer and provider focused conferences and trainings hosted in the Tri-County region. David K. said that he will reach out to NYS AIDS Institute (AI) to find out if their Leadership Training Institute (LTI) continues to host trainings in the region.
Agenda Item #4: Updates
| Consumer Update Victor A. reported that the NYS AI continues to discuss the challenges impacting aging adults with HIV – from living with co-morbidities, social isolation to depression and suicide. He emphasized the importance of supportive services and consumer trainings to address the needs of aging consumers. Maria D. flagged that mental health services need to be strengthened to support consumers. of having to stay connected to services pose as serious barriers for long-term survivors. Victor A. mentioned that Medicaid transportation continues to be an issue for consumers with many having to rely on Cornerstone for their transportation needs to medical appointments. Doienne S. mentioned that she would reach out once again to Medicaid transportation to relay these concerns for troubleshooting. He also shared that it would be helpful to hold another DSS forum allowing consumers to voice their concerns with Directors. |
Recipient Report
Johanna A. reported news from HRSA and other federal agencies, including the commemoration of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day to highlight the unique needs of people with HIV (PWH) aged 50 and older on September 18th. On September 27th, HRSA’s RWHAP observed National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This observance offers an opportunity to raise awareness about stopping HIV stigma and encouraging HIV testing, prevention, and treatment for HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. This includes highlighting homophobia, racism, stigma, and discrimination as drivers of negative HIV health outcomes among this population.
The National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) took place on October 15, the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month. The NLAAD 2024 campaign brings together communities, service providers, and organizations providing services to Hispanic/Latino communities throughout the U.S. and territories under one theme: “Start Treatment. Stick to It. Get Better.” This year’s campaign is directed at the entire community, with a focus on PWH. The campaign urges PWH to choose one of the many available treatment options to maintain their health, reach an undetectable viral load, and stop the spread of HIV (treatment as prevention).
On August 16, HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) released a new program letter detailing guidance on providing support for people aging with HIV through the RWHAP. The letter defines people aging with HIV as Older Adults (PWH aged 50 and older), Long-term Survivors (adults who acquired HIV prior to the availability of antiretroviral therapy), and Life-term Survivors (adults who acquired HIV at birth or as young children).
Earlier this month, HRSA HAB released a revised HAB Policy Notice (PN) 21-01, Waiver of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Core Medical Services Expenditure Requirement. Effective October 1, 2024, this policy notice replaces HRSA HAB PN 21-01 issued on October 1, 2021. PN 21-01 provides the processes and requirements for HRSA RWHAP Parts A, B, and C recipients to request waivers of the statutory requirement that 75% of grant funds be expended for core medical services. The revised policy notice incorporates a new policy requiring that the proposed percentages of HIV service dollars allocated to core medical and support services be included on the Core Medical Services Waiver Request Attestation Form.
On October 11, HRSA HAB announced the retirement of Laura Cheever, MD, ScM, as the Associate Administrator of HRSA HAB. Dr. Cheever will be retiring at the end of this calendar year from HRSA after 25 years of federal service.
On September 25, the Recipient successfully submitted the RWHAP Part A: HIV Emergency Relief Grant Program (funding opportunity number: HRSA-25-054) grant application for competing continuation of funding for the NY Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) in advance of the October 1 deadline.
The Recipient announced the release of a new series of service locator Google Maps. There are a total of four maps, all of which will serve as a way to connect the community to the RWHAP Part A, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Undetectables, and Crystal Methamphetamine Harm Reduction Services programs that are available in NYC and the Tri-County.
The 2024 National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment (NRWC) took place between August 20-23, 2024. Recipient staff along with PC leadership took part in the conference, attending both virtually and in-person at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.
The Quality Management (QM) Committee for the NY EMA met on September 17, 2024, to introduce planned subrecipient quality management trainings, as well as review feedback from trainings that took place over the spring and summer. Feedback noted that subrecipient participants have gained valuable information on quality improvement practices that they plan to utilize in evaluating RWHAP Part A service delivery.
The 2024 Ryan White Part A All-Provider Meeting took place on July 16 in Manhattan at Baruch College. Important updates and helpful information for subrecipients were shared throughout the day, as well as ample opportunities for subrecipients to engage and network with one another. The event focused on improving collaboration and referrals across the RWHAP Part A portfolio, as well as strategies for empowering and engaging consumers.
On September 10, 2024, the HIV Care and Treatment Program (CTP) delivered a training with RWHAP Part A Harm Reduction subrecipients for the Healthy Conversations evidence-based health education intervention. Over 20 subrecipient providers attended the training to learn more about engaging RWHAP Part A consumers in various health topics on substance use, mental health, and wellness. In October of 2024, members of the CTP Care Coordination and training teams will travel to Peekskill, NY to deliver an orientation to Care Coordination services and best practices.
In honor of National HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, September 18, the Bureau of Hepatitis, HIV, and STIs (BHHS), held “Thriving, Resilient, and Empowered: Healthy Aging with HIV”. The event aimed to bring together people aging with HIV and their service providers in community and conversation.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD) requiring Medicare to cover all forms of PrEP to prevent HIV without patient cost-sharing. For enrollees being assessed for PrEP or taking PrEP, Medicare will also cover up to eight counseling sessions (covering HIV risk assessment, HIV risk reduction, and medication adherence) every 12 months, up to eight HIV screenings every 12 months, and one hepatitis B screening, without cost-sharing.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State received a final commitment of $10 billion from the federal government to expand health insurance coverage for 1.5 million New Yorkers as part of its section 1332 State Innovation Waiver.
The Health and Human Services Administration (HHS) issued a Request for Information to gather recommendations to inform the development of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the U.S.: 2026- 2030; STIs National Strategic Plan for the U.S.: 2026-2030; Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan for the U.S.: 2026-2030; and Vaccines National Strategic Plan for the U.S.: 2026-2030. The 2026-2030 plans would replace the current HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, and vaccines national plans. Public comments to inform the 2026-2030 plans must be submitted online no later than December 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.
The Biden-Harris administration announced that the HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and the U.S. Postal Services will once again offer free at-home COVID-19 tests through COVIDtests.gov for U.S. household ordering.
Planning Council Update
David K. announced that on Oct. 18th, the NY HIV Planning Council held their New Member Orientation. The Ryan White Part Grant Application has been completed and submitted to HRSA and the narrative will be available soon to review. It was announced that the next full Planning Council will have a hybrid option, the meeting will include a presentation of the annual NYC HIV Epidemiology Surveillance report. The meeting will also vote on the revised Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) services directive which incorporates updated language from current NY State Integrated HIV Care and Treatment plan as well as mandating spending through as least one service site located within the five boroughs of NYC. The Needs Assessment Committee concluded its review of data on the topic improving access to HIV services for people involved in sex work, a population identified in the 2022 full Needs Assessment. Doienne S. will deliver a presentation on the recommendations to the TCSC later in the year. The Integration of Care Committee is currently revising the Care Coordination service directive.
Agenda Item #5: Presentation – RWPA Service locator Google Maps
Nicole H. (Recipient staff) delivered a presentation on the release of the new series of an online service locator Google Maps for finding and providing client referrals for RWPA services in the NY EMA. Nicole H. did a live demonstration of how to access and navigate the four Google maps: RWHAP Part A, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Undetectables, and Crystal Methamphetamine Harm Reduction Services programs that are available in NYC and the Tri-County. The presentation also included information on the process for how the maps are updated and maintained. Services on the maps are listed by service category, borough, agency name, and contact information. Nicole H. mentioned that the maps are posted on the Planning Council website and shared that a text version of the RWPA Referral Directory will be updated to include Tri-County agencies. Doienne S. asked the Recipient if they were any mechanisms for users to provide feedback on the RWPA service listings on the Google Maps. The Recipient reported that they would consider the recommendation for adding a feedback mechanism to the maps in the future.
Agenda Item #6: Presentation – Tri-County Steering Committee –
Background and Workplan
Doienne S. provided a background to the Planning Council, Tri-County Steering Committee (TCSC) and the expectations of TCSC members. She shared the activities completed in TCSC’s planning year 2023 to 2024 as well as the workplan for 2024-2025. Doienne shared that the TCSC plans to discuss and explore the following topics: An update from the Recipient on the availability of an online directory for locating RWPA services (Nov 2024); the NAC recommendations to improve access the RWPA services for people engaged in sex work or exchange (Winter 2024); the Grant Year 2025 Spending Scenario Plan (Winter 2025); the NYS Epi HIV surveillance data for 2023 ; the GY 2026 Application Spending Plan; the revision of service directives. Doienne S. opened the floor to members to share additional topics to possibly explore during the planning year. Suggested items included the following:
- Food and nutrition services
- HIV self-testing for rural communities with limited access (status-neutral approach)
- Medicaid 1115 Waiver and Social Care Networks
- Funding threats
- Trainings and workshops on most important needs (survey)
- Immigration deportation and policy protections
- Expanding case management services (outside of medical needs)
Following the brainstorm, Doienne S. will email the finalized list of potential topics to explore during the planning year for TCSC member review.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
