January Action Report

Action from Members

• Welcome New Members - OpenLoop and Ash Wellness!
• Mistr and Molecular Testing Labs (MTL) have been closely collaborating with the New York State Department of Health (NYDOH) to authorize the use of MTL’s dried-blood spot specimens to improve access to PrEP in New York. Mistr will utilize MTL's testing technology to provide PrEP services to nearly 14,000 New York residents - approximately 40% of PrEP users in the state. This unprecedented move by NYDOH, and partnership between Mistr and MTL, provides convenience for PrEP users and accelerates efforts to reduce rates of HIV transmission in this high impact region.
• ‍Mercer has been leading efforts to engage national associations to support efforts calling on Congress to fully fund the proposed FY24 federal HIV budget. The Coalition has drafted a sign-on letter that could be an opportunity for member company support. More to come soon.
• ‍BLK and OraSure Technologies are co-authoring an op-ed to highlight the racial inequities in engaging in HIV prevention and care, and calling on Congress to fully fund the proposed FY24 federal HIV budget, which would provide support for programs doing meaningful outreach in these communities.

Action from the Coalition

• Building new infrastructure for growth - We’ve been spending this last month building our infrastructure so we can scale the Coalition even further in 2024. We are developing new forms for companies to track and manage member commitments throughout the year. We will reach out soon to share the new forms and offer time to work with each company to develop your 2024 activities.
  
• Expanding Industry Action Cohorts in 2024 - We are excited about the work we are doing to engage industries and departments within companies that can have a unique impact on HIV. This year we will continue to support Avita Care Solutions, CVS Health, Walgreens, and Walmart through the expanded retail pharmacy cohort, as well as work with Mercer to build out our programming with HR & Benefit leaders, and with Out & Equal to deepen our resources for employee resource groups. We will also launch new cohorts with Government Affairs leaders, as well as build industry-focused cohorts to expand access to HIV testing and combat HIV stigma through media and entertainment. We will be reaching out to members in the coming weeks about your interest in joining these efforts.
  
• Developing New 2024 Local Chapters - While we establish our Atlanta chapter, initial planning is already underway to develop additional local business coalitions in Houston and Los Angeles later this year. When we reach out to discuss your 2024 company commitments, you will have the opportunity to opt-in to these local chapters and deepen your engagement and impact in regions disproportionately impacted by HIV. Consider whether these efforts a good fit for your company!

Opportunities for Action

• Key Messages
  • What are your plans to recognize National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day? - February 7 is a day to acknowledge the disproportionate impact of HIV in Black communities in the U.S. Consider how your company will mark this day and share information with employees and beyond.
  • While Black Americans represent approximately 12% of the U.S. population, they account for 40% of people with HIV.
  • The rate of new HIV infections among Black women is 10 times that of white women and four times that of Latina women.
  • While HIV can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, age, or where they live, some population groups have higher rates of HIV in their communities, thus raising the risk of new infections.
  • Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system may affect whether Black people seek or receive HIV prevention services. These issues may also reduce the likelihood of engaging in HIV treatment and care.
  • National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among Black communities.‍
  • Take Action: This year’s theme is "Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities". Discover opportunities to share information in your workplace or on social media. It's also an opportunity to connect with local HIV/AIDS organizations and see how your company might support awareness day events in your area.‍
  • February 28 is HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day. HIV criminalization laws were enacted decades ago and no longer reflect medical advances in HIV treatment and prevention. Today thirty-five states have laws that criminalize HIV exposure. Outdated HIV laws can perpetuate stigma and discourage testing and treatment. ‍
• Learn More: ‍
  • The Center for HIV Law & Policy has developed an interactive map where you can learn more about HIV criminalization laws and policies in your state.
  • Check out HIV Is Not A Crime, an initiative from the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, raising awareness and leading efforts to revise outdated laws state-by-state (made possible by funding from Gilead).

Coalition in the News

• Reflections from ONAP 2021–2024 (Departure message from Harold Phillips), HIV.gov (January 19)

HIV in the News

• Estimating The Impact Of Out-Of-Pocket Cost Changes On Abandonment Of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Health Affairs (January 2024)
  • "Based on their analyses, the researchers estimated that raising monthly patient out-of-pocket costs for PrEP from $0 to the $1-$10 category would nearly double the prescription abandonment rate (from 5.6 percent to 11.1 percent), while moving to the $101-$500 category the abandonment rate would be 34.7 percent." Penn Medicine News (January 5)

Behind the Scenes

This month we are pleased to introduce you to our last, and certainly not least, member of our HIV Leadership Advisory Council:

Carl Schmid
‍Executive Director
HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute

Brief bio/description of your current role:     

Since January 2020, I have been the Executive Director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, a national nonprofit based in Washington, DC that promotes quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions. Prior to that, I was Deputy Executive Director of The AIDS Institute, where I worked for 16 years. I have twice served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) (2007-09, 2018-23), was co-chair (2018-21), and was very involved in the development and implementation of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. One of my principal areas of focus has been ensuring adequate funding for domestic HIV prevention and treatment programs and I have co-chaired for many years the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership AIDS Budget and Appropriations Coalition. I also have expertise in healthcare financing systems, including Medicaid and Medicare, and lead efforts to ensure that the Affordable Care Act meets the needs of beneficiaries, including the provision of prescription medications. I currently serve as a Consumer Representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. I am also a member of the State Department’s PEPFAR’s Scientific Advisory Board.

How do you hope to see U.S. Business Action to End HIV and coalition members contributing toward ending HIV in the U.S.?

Ending HIV requires a whole of society approach, not a single segment of society. The HIV community, government, non-profits, nor the business community can do it alone. We must do it together! I have been so impressed with the Coalition’s progress over the past year. So many companies have joined in the effort and are working together on the common goal of ending HIV. Whether it is educating employees, conducting HIV testing and awareness campaigns, or reviewing health coverage policies, coalition members are taking meaningful steps to help end HIV and at the same time, help erase HIV stigma. Collectively the business community has great power, and we can use its voice particularly in the policy arena and in those places where the community voice is not strong. I also hope U.S. Business Action to End HIV will do more in the entertainment and media sectors with a focus on the racial and ethnic groups that are most impacted by HIV. Only by working together, and by strategically focusing on key areas where we can have the greatest impact, can we attain our mutual goal of ending HIV.  

Why have you personally decided to dedicate yourself to working on HIV?

As a gay man who lost many close friends and coworkers in the early days of the epidemic, I began volunteering with local and national HIV groups. I was also very involved in leading some local DC and national advocacy efforts in the LGBT rights arena, again in a volunteer capacity, while working for a national business community trade association. Over time, I was fortunate enough to bring these two passions together and build a career out of it.  Never did I expect to be a health policy expert, but I also knew I wanted to be in the government affairs world. Some of my own personal health experiences have helped shape my work. I have chronic hepatitis B and have been fairly sick from time to time over my life.  There was a time I could not obtain health insurance and faced discrimination by health providers. While without insurance, I ended up having serious surgery and a hospital bill of over $30,000. I am also a cancer survivor. All of these experiences have taught me to be a stronger advocate and fighter, particularly for those who may not have the ability to so on their own.

Save the Date

• National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • Wednesday, February 7 (More information)
• HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day
  • Wednesday, February 28 (More information)
• Q1 Quarterly Coalition Meeting
  • Thursday, March 7, 2pm ET (60 mins, virtual)

Thank you for your commitment and leadership. Let's keep up the momentum!