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Welcome to the July edition of The Action Report!‍

This month, we’re spotlighting how companies across the Coalition marked National HIV Testing Day, welcoming our newest members, and sharing key updates from the field. Plus, don’t miss our latest Leading By Example profile featuring Ramin Bastani of Healthvana, who is pioneering the use of AI to accelerate efforts to end HIV.

National HIV Testing Day Round-Up

On National HIV Testing Day (June 27), several member companies stepped up to spotlight the importance of HIV testing — raising awareness, reducing stigma, and connecting employees and customers to critical services. Here are some highlights from across the Coalition:

• Alchemy took to LinkedIn to encourage their audience to get tested, know their status, and access care by promoting free HIV testing events at partner clinics nationwide.

• Avita Care Solutions launched the Erase the Doubt campaign to break down barriers to HIV testing by confronting stigma and misinformation.

• Curant Health shared five things to keep in mind on National HIV Testing Day to encourage people to know their status.
• Paramount Pictures hosted a Lunch and Learn featuring Dr. Alexandra Levine, who shared her pioneering work uncovering critical links between lymphoma and HIV. She also reflected on her collaboration with Dr. Jonas Salk in early HIV vaccine research — an inspiring testament to the power of scientific discovery to advance global health.
• On June 27, Walgreens and KFF’s Greater Than HIV initiative partnered with local health departments and community organizations to host the nation’s largest National HIV Testing Day event — offering free rapid HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C testing at more than 575 Walgreens locations nationwide.

• Walmart Specialty Pharmacy called out National HIV Testing Day on LinkedIn and highlighted its point-of-care HIV screenings available at over 20 pharmacy locations in Virginia and Colorado. As well as its 89 Specialty Pharmacies of the Community (SPOCs) across 12 states provide localized, expert care for people living with HIV.

• Bastion spotlighted the urgent need for better access, earlier screening, and stigma-free care — especially for men.
• Empower HIV Health posted an informational video about HIV at-home tests on LinkedIn.
• The Empowerment Advocate's Larneka Lavalais shared why HIV testing matters on LinkedIn.
• OraSure shared the power of knowing your status and discussions they have hosted dedicated to raising awareness, fostering community, and honoring progress in the fight against HIV.
• ‍RADCube highlighted the disparities in HIV testing and care access and shared the Coalition’s National HIV Testing Day Playbook on LinkedIn.
• Versante.AI reminded their audience that “getting tested isn’t about shame. It’s about strength” and shared resources to find HIV testing sites and order free testing.

Actions from the Coalition

Welcome New Members: Carbon Health, Hello Alpha, Health Care Ventures, TBD Health

🎬 The Coalition is excited to host our first Local Chapter Connect today, July 31 at 2pm ET. It's not too late to register to join! This special virtual event brings together members of our Atlanta, Houston, and Los Angeles Chapters for the first time to strengthen connections across our network, spark new ideas, and deepen our collective impact in the fight to end the HIV epidemic.

🏛️ On July 16, a delegation of business leaders from U.S. Business Action to End HIV, including Alchemy, Avita Care Solutions, Gilead, MISTR, Molecular Testing Labs, and ViiV Healthcare, returned to Washington, DC to meet with the Office of Management and Budget and the office of Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). The discussions focused on the Coalition’s commitment to supporting the nation’s efforts to end HIV and the importance of continued investment in HIV prevention and treatment funding. The Coalition will continue to find opportunities to engage with lawmakers as FY26 budget negotiations continue.

👥 This summer, we launched a new Intern Network to engage interns from Coalition member companies in networking, professional development, and conversations on how the next generation can shape the fight to end HIV. Led by our intern Keira Adams, the pilot included 15 interns from ViiV Healthcare, Walgreens, RadCube, and Sesh Coworking who participated in two virtual workshops. We look forward to continuing to engage these future leaders as they take action in their workplaces.

Opportunities For Action

🍸 Heading to the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS? Join Us for a Coalition Happy Hour! If you’ll be at USCHA in Washington, DC this year, we’d love for you to join Mario and Caroline for a casual happy hour on September 4, from 5:30–6:30 PM at the Lobby Bar of the conference hotel. It’s a great chance to connect with fellow Coalition members, HIV Leadership Advisory Council members, partners, and public health leaders. More details to come — we hope to see you there!

🎤 Our next virtual quarterly Coalition meeting is September 11, 2–3pm ET. Let us know if it’s not already on your calendar so we can send the invite.

🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn! We now have our own LinkedIn page! Follow U.S. Business Action to End HIV to stay connected and help us grow our presence. When you post about Coalition work, please tag us!

This newsletter is made possible with additional support from

Leading by Example

“Leading by Example” is a series from U.S. Business Action to End HIV highlighting inspiring business leaders who are accelerating progress toward an end to the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

Ramin Bastani

CEO

Healthvana

How is Healthvana leveraging AI to improve communication and engagement with patients?

AI acts more human than humans have time to act — and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Our AI meets patients where they are, with no stigma and no judgment. It lets people communicate in the way they feel most comfortable — and responds 24/7 with education and endless empathy.

In our recently released Stanford-led study spanning 15 months, 15 states, and 50 clinics, our AI supported patients in over 50,000 conversations inside their patient portal. Importantly, patients who used the AI were 3x as likely to start PrEP and 2x as likely to stay on it. Nearly 80% of users were from communities most impacted by HIV — Black, Latino, LGBTQ+, and younger patients.

What’s striking is both the speed and depth of trust. Patients — in a HIPAA-compliant setting — open up about incredibly personal topics tied to their sexual health, including sexual assault, suicide, and mental health.

One person sent 120 messages in just a few hours. Another has exchanged over 2,000 messages with the AI over time. These aren’t one-off questions — they’re long-term conversations built on trust.

That kind of trust is hard to earn — and it’s changing how people engage with their health.

HIV in the News

Trump's Medicaid cuts could be a death sentence for thousands of HIV-positive Texans, Houston Chronicle (July 13)
President Trump's 'big beautiful' bill would slash funding for federal HIV prevention, medications, support services and research.

Public health officials: Ending the HIV epidemic is in sight. We can’t stop now, Chicago Tribune (July 21)
Chicago, Cook County and Illinois are on the cusp of ending the HIV epidemic in our city, county and state. But that progress is fragile.

Kennedy to oust care task force, WSJ reports; HHS says no decision yet, Reuters (July 25)
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly moving to remove all members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which currently mandates insurers to cover preventive services — such as HIV prevention drugs — raising concerns about future PrEP coverage mandates under the Affordable Care Act.

Coming Up

July 31

2025 Chapter Connect: For Atlanta, Houston & LA Chapter Members
‍2-3pm ET, virtual (Register)

Sept 4

USCHA
Washington, D.C.

Sept 11

Q3 National Coalition Meeting
2-3pm ET, virtual

Sept 25

Atlanta Chapter Meeting
11:30am - 2pm ET, in-person (Register)

Sept 30

Houston Chapter Meeting
11:30am - 2pm CT, in-person (Register)

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

The Health Action Alliance is solely responsible for the content of this page and maintains full editorial control of its resources.

U.S. Business Action to End HIV was founded in 2022 by the Health Action Alliance, with support from ViiV Healthcare, to mobilize a growing coalition of private sector partners committed to filling gaps and accelerating progress to help end HIV in the U.S. by 2030.

The Health Action Alliance is a unique collaboration between leading business, communications, and public health organizations to help employers navigate evolving health challenges, improve the health of workers, and engage with public health partners to build stronger, healthier communities. Founded in 2021 by the Ad Council, Business Roundtable, CDC Foundation, the de Beaumont Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HAA's network now includes more than 11,000 employers nationwide, reaching a quarter of U.S. workers.