Congress took the crucial first step in helping communities across the country reduce new HIV infections by passing the 2020 spending bills, which funds the President’s Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative and other high priority HIV programs.
The initial phase of the Initiative focuses on specific geographic sites in 19 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, where the majority of the new HIV cases are reported, as well as in 7 states with a disproportionate occurrence of HIV in rural areas.
TAKE ACTION: Share the tweets below to communicate an important message about key strategies in the federal initiative to end HIV as an epidemic.
- The #EndingtheHIVEpidemic initiative includes the Ready, Set, PrEP program which expands access to #PrEP medications to protect against #HIV. The program provides the medication for PrEP at no charge. Eligibility information at GetYourPrEP.com.
Click to tweet. - Ready, Set, PrEP is a key component of the #EndingtheHIVEpidemic initiative. By increasing access to #PrEP, the program can provide thousands of people a safe, effective way to prevent #HIV and bring our nation one step closer to ending HIV as an epidemic.
Click to tweet. - HIVMA advocates for increased access to PrEP by addressing access barriers including health care coverage issues and #drugprices. The Ready, Set, PrEP program expands access to #PrEP medications at no cost. Eligibility information at GetYourPrEP.com.
Click to tweet. - The South’s disproportionate #HIV prevalence and health care disparities call for urgent action. 48% of the highest burden counties identified for the #EndingtheHIVEpidemic initiative are in the Southern U.S.
Click to tweet - The high HIV prevalence in the South is driven in part by socioeconomic factors like poverty and unemployment. Both factors are associated with poorer health outcomes and may contribute to a higher concentration of #HIV and other chronic diseases like diabetes in the region.
Click to tweet. - Half of uninsured Americans live in the South. Medicaid is the largest source of coverage for people with #HIV, yet 9 of 16 states in the South have not expanded #Medicaid. Prior to the #ACA, people with HIV were ineligible for Medicaid unless they had very low incomes.
Click to tweet. - As we look ahead to 2020, HIVMA remains committed to ending discrimination in healthcare and criminalization related to HIV status, sexual orientation or gender identity. We advocate for the dignity, rights and well-being of people living with and affected by #HIV.
Click to tweet. - HIVMA calls on the @HHSGOV to remove harmful policies that marginalize individuals who are LGBT. Cutting access to care for #LGBT people living with #HIV would contribute to stigma and would significantly weaken the #EndingtheHIVEpidemic initiative.
Click to tweet. - The #LGBT community faces unique health disparities. The #EndingtheHIVEpidemic initiative’s goal of reducing new #HIV incidence by 90% by 2030 requires investing in programs that promote health equity and #healthcare access for all.
Click to tweet.