Category Archives: News

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

Reflections on the IAS 2023 conference

When I joined NIH OAR earlier this year, my appreciation grew for the profound and complex nature of scientific discoveries made possible by NIH HIV funding and the institutional and community partnerships that enable this research. The recent International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) in Brisbane, Australia, underscored the importance of highlighting the tremendous scientific efforts of intramural and extramural NIH researchers who continue to drive us closer to ending the HIV pandemic.

This biennial conference showcases science and scientific discovery in the continual learning process that is fighting HIV. This year’s conference provided new insights that reminded us how far we’ve come but also how far we still need to go.

Chief among these insights were the findings from the REPRIEVE clinical trial, a large global study supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and OAR. The study found that statins can reduce major cardiovascular events by more than a third in people with HIV. When investigators measured the combination of major cardiovascular events or premature deaths from any cause, use of a statin reduced this number by one in five in this population. Furthermore, this trial studied people with HIV who were classified as having low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk, a group that historically would not routinely be prescribed statins.

As a result, the findings are expected to directly influence clinical guidelines and standards of care for an aging population of people with HIV and add to the growing literature that demonstrates that people with HIV experience higher cardiovascular risk than the general population.

OAR has recognized the challenges faced by a growing population of people aging with HIV and established its HIV and Aging Signature Program. This program was developed in response to evolving community needs and feedback from federal and community partners. [At the] U.S. Conference on HIV and AIDS (USCHA) in Washington, DC, an NIH working group, co-led by OAR and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), [led] a panel discussion on key avenues of inquiry between HIV and aging that includes community members and representatives from relevant federal agencies.

Beyond the importance of REPRIEVE on cardiovascular outcomes, IAS 2023 also highlighted research into the long-term effects of certain classes of antiretroviral therapy on comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and weight gain, among people with HIV. The studies presented at the conference provide crucial insight for practitioners managing metabolic comorbidities of people with HIV, especially those older than 50.

Another topic of many sessions at IAS 2023 was the disproportionate impact of HIV on women and girls, who globally represent about half of all people with HIV and are the focus of OAR’s equity-informed and data-driven HIV and Women Signature Program. This program was launched in February 2023 in partnership with the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH).

The REPRIEVE study specifically examined outcomes among females with HIV, noting that while statins were equally effective across sexes, risk calculators may underestimate risk of cardiovascular disease among females with HIV, compared to males. In addition, females with HIV may have higher inflammatory markers despite lower prevalence of coronary artery plaque. These findings emphasize the importance of investigating sex-based differences to better understand the impact of comorbidities on women with HIV.

Findings from REPRIEVE and many other trials are helping close important research gaps. It is also critical to address existing science-to-service gaps, which OAR works to address through close collaboration and coordination with service-focused federal agencies.

Several studies presented at the conference aimed to narrow this science-to-service gap through behavioral, social, and implementation science to better understand how to reach a larger swath of the population of people with HIV or those who experience increased risk of HIV acquisition. Investigators presented data on preferences of adolescent girls and young women for using dapivirine vaginal rings over oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In addition, findings from HPTN 084-01, the long-acting injection for teens (LIFT) study, demonstrated the acceptability of long-acting injectables among adolescent females in Southern Africa.

These studies are critical to improve our understanding of which different treatment and prevention options are most effective for reaching different populations, allowing us to leverage our entire toolkit of interventions to end the HIV pandemic.

IAS 2023 put science front and center in the larger discussion about the HIV pandemic and served as an important reminder of its power to move the needle in our shared efforts to end the pandemic. If you would like to learn more about the findings discussed at IAS 2023 or about OAR’s Signature Programs, please watch this video interview with HIV.gov and review other insights shared at the conference.

August 25, 2023 – The CHIPTS Policy Impact Core in collaboration with the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers is excited to share a newly published infographic entitled “Zero-Cost Preventive Care for Californians & Extended Coverage for STI Screenings.” The infographic describes the recent Texas case Braidwood Management v. Becerra and discusses potential implications on PrEP coverage and other preventative care costs.

The infographic then summarizes California Assembly Bill 1645 that seeks to preserve and extend coverage for PrEP and other preventative care protections at the state level.

Insights include information about the following:

• What is the impact of Braidwood, if the decision is upheld?
• Who may be impacted by the court decision?
• What does California Assembly Bill 1645 seek to do?

Please find a copy of the infographic available for download below:

Zero-Cost Preventive Care For Californians And Extended Coverage For STI Screenings - Infographic

 

 

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We hope that you can review the infographic and publication and share the important findings with your networks. Help us circulate this important work to your networks! Share on social media below:

Share on Twitter & Facebook (Retweet), Create your own social media posts using the suggested language below:

Twitter: NEW @CHIPTS  and @ca_hiv_policyrc  infographic: Employer coverage for #PrEP is at risk – proposed legislation in CA seeks to preserve & expand coverage for PrEP & STI care. Learn about Braidwood v. Becerra & what #AB1645 will do to address healthcare gaps. https://chipts.ucla.edu/news/new-infographic-zero-cost-preventive-care-for-californians-and-extended-coverage-for-sti-screenings/ 

Facebook: NEW Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services and  California HIV / AIDS Policy Research Centers infographic: Employer coverage for #PrEP is at risk – proposed legislation in CA seeks to preserve & expand coverage for PrEP & STI care. Learn about Braidwood v. Becerra & what #AB1645 will do to address healthcare gaps. https://chipts.ucla.edu/news/new-infographic-zero-cost-preventive-care-for-californians-and-extended-coverage-for-sti-screenings/ 

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

Hepatitis C is a significant public health concern affecting an estimated 71 million people worldwide. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that approximately 2.4 million individuals are living with chronic hepatitis C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 21% of people with HIV in the U.S. also have hepatitis C. Among injection drug users with HIV, the co-infection rate is much higher—estimated to be between 62% and 80%. HIV and hepatitis C coinfection can lead to accelerated liver disease progression, increased risk of liver-related complications, and higher mortality rates if left untreated. Hepatitis C also disproportionately affects individuals without insurance, American Indian and Alaska Native persons, Black individuals, justice-involved populations, and people who use drugs—the same populations disproportionately affected by HIV.

While hepatitis C can cause serious liver damage if left untreated, the infection is curable. Advances in direct-acting antivirals have revolutionized hepatitis C treatment, with cure rates exceeding 95% in an 8–12-week course of medication. More than 15,000 people die of hepatitis C in the U.S. every year. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons including lack of health insurance, provider bias, and lack of knowledge of hepatitis infection, too few people access curative treatments.

To counter these low cure rates, the White House announced a five-year Hepatitis Elimination Plan (PDF, 1.18MB) in its FY 2024 Budget Proposal. This comprehensive strategy aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the U.S. by 2030. The Plan focuses on five key pillars:

1. Diagnose Hepatitis C: Accelerating the availability of point-of-care diagnostics to identify individuals living with hepatitis C and start them on curative treatments on the same day.
2. Cure Hepatitis C: Ensuring universal access to safe and effective treatment for all individuals diagnosed with hepatitis C, including those coinfected with HIV.
3. Bolster Public Health and Provider Capacity: Investing in grassroots organizations and community partners to build trust and engage communities, scaling-up training for all types of healthcare clinicians, and exploring innovative models of care such as mobile treatment and telehealth to further the reach of the program.

Advocates have been working with the White House and others to craft the details of the Elimination Plan, ensuring that the Plan encourages treatment for all populations affected by hepatitis C and addresses opportunities for testing, linkage to care, and treatment in underserved populations with disproportionate rates of hepatitis C, including incarcerated persons and people who use drugs.

Taking a syndemic approach to the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C and HIV is emphasized in both the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (PDF, 1.76MB) (NHAS). By integrating efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat hepatitis C among people with HIV, the Strategy aims to reduce liver-related morbidity and mortality, improve overall health, and enhance the quality of life for individuals coinfected with these viruses. Expansion of harm reduction approaches, such as needle exchange programs and substance use disorder treatment, is central to both Strategy’s efforts to prevent new hepatitis C and HIV infections among people who use drugs. The Department of Health and Human Services recently released a 2021-2022 Progress Report for the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan (PDF, 857KB).

Coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C poses a significant health challenge, but through collaborative efforts outlined in the White House Hepatitis Elimination Plan, the National Hepatitis Strategy, and a focus on harm reduction, the U.S. can move toward achieving elimination goals. By scaling up prevention, testing, harm reduction interventions, and treatment efforts, we can reduce the burden of hepatitis C.

As a center focused on the study of HIV, it is imperative to detail the implications for our research field of the recent Supreme Court ruling that race can no longer be used as a factor in college admissions in the U.S.

Precedent in the case of Grutter vs. Bollinger determined that diversity was a compelling interest for educational institutions, one that would allow consideration of race in holistic admissions processes. Overturning that decision has the potential to affect U.S. efforts to end the HIV epidemic at multiple levels. Like many health conditions, large differences in HIV outcomes occur along lines of race and ethnicity. When it comes to new HIV cases in the U.S., the disparities are staggering. For example, according to the latest data, rates of new cases among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African, and Hispanic/Latiné people are 1.8, 4.2, and 8.5 times that of White people, respectively. Lower levels of viral suppression and HIV care engagement and higher rates of HIV morbidity and mortality are also observed in these groups compared to White populations. Inequities in education and other markers of socioeconomic status are among the root causes that help to account for increased burden of disease in many minoritized populations, but these inequities also impact the field itself.

Activism and science have played key roles in addressing the HIV pandemic. The successes in drastically lowering HIV rates and improving health and life expectancy for people with HIV are a credit to both the scientists who discovered biomedical interventions and the activists who pushed for resources to fund this work and a voice in how it was done. Unfortunately, the benefits of these advances have not accrued evenly. In fact, in the 40+ years since the first AIDS case was identified, most scientific advances have been followed by widening HIV-related disparities by race/ethnicity.

A significant blind spot in our field is the persistently low representation of people from communities most affected by HIV in HIV research. For example, just 6.9% of practicing physicians and 9.7% of people with doctorates in biomedical sciences are Latiné compared with 18% of the U.S population. Just 5.7%  of practicing physicians and 4.6% people with doctorates in biomedical sciences are Black/African American compared with 13% of the U.S. population.

The absence of these voices means that advances in medicine and science lack transformative power because solutions are often not tailored to the needs and wants of communities in need. Without such insight, new modes of screening, testing, treatment, and prevention are inaccessible due to structural barriers (e.g., residence in healthcare deserts, lack of insurance or sick leave, and biased treatment in healthcare settings). For much of the HIV pandemic, societal inequities born of root causes, including racism and segregation, have not been examined or addressed. Without representation, we lack the depth of knowledge and lived experience to shape innovations and transform scientific advancement into growth. To complicate this further, many people in Black, Latiné, and Native American communities have well-grounded distrust of the researchers, public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare systems that make these advances in HIV care and treatment available. Thus, engaging fewer trusted voices in the field comes at a cost.

Over the last several years, concerted efforts have been made and the ground has shifted. Funding agencies have better prioritized community-based research, a focus on social determinants of health, and research on racism — leading to more policies, practices, and interventions that the most-affected communities can benefit from. The work of Black, Native American, and Latiné scholars and activists has played a critical role in this shift. Research on the role of social and economic factors, which challenges biological explanations for racial disparities in health in the fields of public health, medicine, and sociology, dates all the way back to WEB Dubois — who is often credited as the founder of sociology and social epidemiology. Efforts by NIH, CDC, the Minority AIDS Research Initiative, and other funding agencies to widen the pipeline of scholars from underrepresented communities in HIV and other fields have contributed to this still evolving area of inquiry.

A backbone supporting such efforts is, and now was, affirmative action.

Affirmative action at colleges and universities made it possible for more students of color to access higher education, including graduate school and medical school. Affirmative action opened up pathways for more clinicians and researchers from underrepresented communities to address HIV. Their impacts on our field have been critical. These clinicians and scholars have meaningful insight into factors influencing health and healthcare behaviors in communities that are overburdened with disease. Their ability to move past deficit models so often applied to their communities and gain the trust of their communities and patients is born out of insider knowledge and lived experience. This helps the fields of medicine and public health to begin to close critical gaps in access to care and to reduce disparities. That is just one of the benefits that diversity brings to our fight to end HIV. A SCOTUS decision that deems diversity as “standardless” and demands proof of an end-date to racism has the potential to threaten plans to end the HIV epidemic. Because communities who are farthest from achieving strategic targets (e.g., achieving and maintaining viral suppression) will remain underrepresented in higher education, fewer leaders from these very communities will have the education and training necessary to carry out our collective plans.

Authored by CHIPTS Policy Impact Core Director Nina T. Harawa, PhD, MPH, and Policy Impact Core Co-Director Ayako Miyashita Ochoa, JD, on behalf of CHIPTS.

This content by Harold J. Phillips, MRP, Director, White House Office of National AIDS Policy originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

Last year at the 24th International AIDS Conference, I was proud to join federal colleagues to reaffirm the U.S. government’s commitment to undetectable = untransmittable (U=U) messaging as a powerful messaging tool to support individual and community-level health. U=U is also a critical component of educating the public about HIV and combating HIV stigma and discrimination.

Over the past year, my federal colleagues and I have traveled to several communities, held listening sessions, and presented at countless conferences. I have been so moved to hear how advocates, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations are incorporating U=U into their service delivery models. The efforts below are a handful of examples that show how stakeholders across the country are incorporating U=U into their work.

Community Efforts

• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control adopted U=U as part of its Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative plan and quickly moved to incorporate programming to combat HIV stigma. The health department partnered with a nonprofit, an HIV ministry, and two local designers to create large U=U art displays placed in front of the State House for World AIDS Day. The (U=U) + PrEP + Condoms=EHE (ending the HIV epidemic) also involved a QR code linking to education messages and resources, a video featuring U=U messaging, and a Gubernatorial Proclamation emphasizing U=U.
• Maricopa County, Arizona created the Positively You educational campaign focused on getting the word out about services available through the Ryan White Part A program. The campaign also has an interactive social media component and videos featuring people with HIV highlighting the importance of treatment as prevention and U=U in their lives.
• The Southwest Center in Phoenix, Arizona, incorporated U=U messaging into its community engagement and outreach efforts working to eliminate HIV-related stigma.
• Los Angeles County Division of HIV and STD Programs has created a U=U Action Kit including provider and patient resources. The kit is structured around the core principle of Share Truth Not Stigma so that all staff and clients understand the U=U message. The kit includes a provider resource guide (PDF, 161KB) highlighting scientific literature about U=U, a summary of U=U key messages (PDF, 162KB), and a document that suggests preferred language (PDF, 207KB) when talking about HIV prevention and treatment.
• Tarrant County, Texas has created the website, Beat HIV which highlights U=U messaging for people seeking information about HIV.
• The Fundación Latinoamericana De Acción Social (FLAS) & Ventanillas de Salud, located in Houston, Texas, work to educate Latinos about HIV prevention, care, and treatment resources in the community and provide information about U=U.
• The Louisiana Department of Public Health has increased the amount of provider trainings on HIV and cultural humility and included topics such as U=U and de-stigmatizing substance use.
• New Orleans, Louisiana created the Bounce to Zero social media campaign featuring local bounce music culture and influencers such as Big Freedia, highlighting messages around U=U, PrEP, PEP, and available services.

Federal Efforts

Federal agencies are also incorporating U=U messaging into their critical work to end the HIV epidemic.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of HIV Prevention (DHP) updated the language it uses to describe treatment as prevention and references U=U as part of that messaging. CDC’s changes are now standard language throughout agencies of the federal government, stating that “Based on the evidence, people with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed), won’t transmit HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners.” This clear language about there being no risk of HIV transmission when someone with HIV has an undetectable viral load (U=U) is a critical component of our EHE efforts to keep people with HIV healthy, prevent new transmissions, and combat HIV stigma and discrimination.

 

 

 

• The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy launched a national viral suppression campaign, “I am a Work of ART” and “Celebro Mi Salud,” featuring people with lived experience. The campaign encourages people with HIV who are not in care, or who have fallen out of care, to seek care, stay in care, and achieve viral suppression through antiretroviral therapy (ART). Learn more by visiting gov/ART and the “Celebro Mi Salud” campaign page.
• In April 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment published a nearly $21 million notice of funding opportunity to increase HIV services in existing programs that provide substance use disorder treatment to racial and ethnic minority individuals. Included in the allowable activities is incorporating U=U messages into communication strategies for grant recipients. Learn more about the funding opportunity here.

Updates

I was heartened to see that at IAS 2023, the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, the World Health Organization released new guidance on HIV viral suppression, recognizing the role of viral suppression in improving individual health and decreasing HIV transmission. The new guidance was accompanied by a Lancet literature review looking at 244 studies describing the powerful evidence for U=U messaging and the opportunities to destigmatize HIV and promote viral suppression.

Science has shown that people with HIV who are on ART and have an undetectable viral load, known as viral suppression, will stay healthy and will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners, also known as undetectable = untransmittable, or U=U. Innovative efforts to disseminate the U=U message have helped to correct misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, while engaging members of key populations in testing and treatment services. We are all encouraged to help spread the message of U=U to help end the HIV epidemic.

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

July 16^th marks the anniversary of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Truvada was the first medication approved for HIV prevention 11 years ago. In 2019, Descovy was added as a PrEP option, and the first injectable PrEP, Apretude, became available in 2022.

After PrEP’s approval, the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention (DHP) prioritized PrEP in its HIV prevention toolbox. The Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) for the United States (2022-2025) set a bold target to increase PrEP coverage to 50 percent by 2025. EHE and NHAS call for proactive strategies that include the provision of PrEP within primary care settings, pharmacies, and syringe services programs (SSPs). As part of EHE, state and local communities, in partnership with CDC and other federal agencies, employ innovative strategies, including TelePrEP, same-day PrEP delivery, long-acting injectable PrEP, and pharmacy-based access to PrEP. These efforts focus on African American and Latino gay and bisexual men, African American women, people who inject drugs, and other populations disproportionately affected by HIV.

Although we continue to make progress, the progress is uneven. Data show that 30% of the 1.2 million persons eligible for PrEP were prescribed it in 2021, compared to 13% in 2017. However, disparities in PrEP coverage exist across racial and ethnic groups. Only 11% of African American persons and 21% of Hispanic/Latino persons eligible for PrEP were prescribed it compared to 78% of White persons. Deeply entrenched social determinants of health drive these disparities and their outcomes.

As part of EHE, CDC and federal partners continue to implement several strategies to increase access to and use of PrEP, such as:

• Adding flexibility to core funding requirements that allow communities to provide services related to PrEP.
• Working with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to train healthcare providers on prescribing and managing PrEP.
• Maintaining the clinical guidelines for prescribing PrEP.
• Developing and delivering social marketing campaigns to the public and healthcare providers to encourage the use of PrEP and to combat the stigmas associated with PrEP use and HIV.
• Developing and maintaining the CDC’s Compendium of Evidence-Based Interventions and Best Practices for HIV Prevention.

We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S., but our nation will not succeed until people who can benefit most from HIV prevention and care are equitably reached. We must continue researching, implementing, and adopting promising biomedical prevention options.

As we celebrate over a decade of PrEP, we must acknowledge the “Mother of PrEP,” the late Dr. Dawn K. Smith. Her visionary work moved PrEP to the forefront of HIV prevention tools used in the United States and globally. Let’s pause to recognize the anniversary of PrEP while we continue to work for a world free of HIV.

July 21, 2023 – Today, CHIPTS joins partners across the globe in observing Zero HIV Stigma Day, a day dedicated to uniting individuals and communities to raise awareness and stand against HIV stigma. In honor of Zero HIV Stigma Day, we are excited to share recent research on this important topic from our CHIPTS faculty. Learn more below.

As a result of HIV stigma, people living with or at-risk of HIV are often discouraged from learning their HIV status, seeking care, or adhering to treatment. Stigma can also discourage open conversations among sex partners about safe sex and testing. Zero HIV Stigma Day is part of a global movement uniting people, communities, and entire countries to raise awareness of HIV and take action to end HIV stigma in all its forms. Individuals can take action against stigma by dispelling myths and stereotypes, and offering support to those who experience stigma.

This year’s theme is “Human First,” emphasizing the human dimension of people living with and affected by HIV. The day also honors Prudence Mabele, the first Black South African woman to publicly share her HIV status. The voice of Prudence Mabele along with the voices of those who stand against HIV stigma are what inspire the HIV workforce to continue their work in HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

Several CHIPTS faculty have pursued research to examine the impact of HIV stigma and improve HIV outcomes for individuals like Prudence Mabele. Recent publications reflecting this work include:

• The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV – Chenglin Hong, Ayako Miyashita Ochoa, Bianca D M Wilson, Elizabeth S C Wu, Damone Thomas, Ian W Holloway 
  • With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.
• The Mediating Effects of Mindfulness on Perceived Stress From HIV Stigma in People Living With HIV in Myanmar: A Cross-sectional Study – Feifei Huang, Wei-Ti Chen, Cheng-Shi Shiu, Sai Htun Lin, Min San Tun, Thet Wai Nwe, Yin Thet Nu Oo, Htun Nyunt Oo
  • HIV is a highly stigmatized condition. In the context of a country heavily influenced by religion, especially Buddhism, this study explores how the perceived stress from HIV stigma interacts with the mediator of mindfulness on PWH in Myanmar.
• Association of Condom Use Advocacy with Perceived Condom Use Among Social Network Members: The Mediating Role of Advocates’ Internalized HIV Stigma and Own Condom Use – Glenn J Wagner, Laura M Bogart, David J Klein, Harold D Green, Joan Nampiima, Andrew Kambugu, Joseph K B Matov
  • This study examined the association of HIV prevention advocacy with social network members (alters) on alter condom use behavior, and factors that may mediate and moderate this relationship among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Uganda, including internalized HIV stigma.
• HIV Disclosure Practices to Family Among Mexican and Puerto Rican Sexual Minority Men with HIV in the Continental USA: Intersections of Sexual Orientation and HIV Stigma – Andres Maiorana,  Sophia Zamudio-Haas, Edda I Santiago-Rodríguez, John A Sauceda, Carlos E Rodríguez-Díaz, Ronald A Brooks, Janet J Myers
  • This study examined intersectional stigma related to HIV and sexual orientation, and HIV disclosure practices to family, among Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) of Mexican and Puerto Rican origin with HIV in the continental USA.
• Maternal PrEP Use in HIV-Uninfected Pregnant Women in South Africa: Role of Stigma in PrEP Initiation, Retention and Adherence – Alexander Moran, Nyiko Mashele, Rufaro Mvududu, Pamina Gorbach, Linda-Gail Bekker, Thomas J. Coates, Landon Myer, Dvora Joseph Davey
  • Pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa are at high risk of HIV acquisition and require effective methods to prevent HIV. In a cohort of pregnant women offered Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), this study evaluated the relationship between internalized and anticipated stigma and PrEP initiation at first antenatal visit, 3-month continuation, and adherence using multivariable logistic regression.

In addition to these publications, we invite you to check out our EHE Regional Learning Collaborative session on Strategies and Approaches to Address HIV Stigma.

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

On July 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the posting of a proposed National Coverage Determination for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Using Antiretroviral Drugs to Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection.

CMS proposes coverage of PrEP using antiretroviral drugs (whether oral or injectable) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent HIV infection in individuals at high risk of HIV acquisition. CMS also proposes to cover the administration of injectable PrEP using antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV infection. PrEP involves the use of antiretroviral drugs on an ongoing basis or before and after HIV exposure. When taken as directed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. Further, CMS is also proposing to cover additional HIV screenings up to seven times annually and a single screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) for these high risk patients.

PrEP medications are currently covered under Medicare Part D, but may have cost-sharing and deductibles. Under the proposal, both oral and injectable forms of the medication would be covered for certain individuals under Part B as an “additional preventive service,” and without requiring payment of Part B coinsurance or meeting the deductible. People with Medicare should talk to their doctor or health care provider to see if this medication is right for them.

You can find more details, and how to submit a comment on this proposed National Coverage Determination by August 11, 2023, at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=Y&NCAId=310

CHIPTS has published a new infographic that provides publication management assistance to investigators whose work is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The infographic describes the manuscript submission process into the NIH Manuscript Submission (NIHMS) system, as part of the compliance requirement enforced by the NIH Public Access Policy. It is important for investigators to verify the compliance status of their publications regularly, especially if they have associated funding acknowledged. NIH will delay processing of non-competing continuation grant awards if publications arising from that award are not in compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy. Learn more about the NIHMS process and access our new infographic below.

Download the infographic: NIH Public Access Policy (2023) - Infographic

BACKGROUND

According to the NIH Public Access Policy (NOT-OD-05-022), investigators funded by the NIH must submit an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central (PMC) upon acceptance of publication. The policy exists to ensure that the public and other researchers have access to NIH funded publications.

Journals may offer an automated, fee-based, or partial submission (review/approval required) option to comply with the policy, but most publications must be deposited manually through the NIH Manuscript Submission (NIHMS) system.

ITEMS FOR MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION

To prepare for your NIHMS system submission, you will need:

• Login information for your eRA Commons or My NCBI account to access the NIHMS system.
• The final author version of the peer-reviewed, accepted manuscript (NOT the published PDF).
• Supplemental files including tables, figures, videos, etc.

MANUAL SUBMISSION PROCESS

When you are ready to submit, follow the process below:

1. Start New Submission: Log in to NIHMS, and select the blue “submit new manuscript” button on the dashboard.
2. Import Citation Data: Import your citation from PubMed by entering your name, PMID, or title to help populate information in NIHMS.
3. Associate Funding: Search and add your NIH grant award associated with the publication.
4. Deposit Manuscript: Upload all files associated with your publication in the appropriate sections, including tables, figures, videos, etc.
5. Review and Approve: Assign a reviewer (e.g., author, submitter). The reviewer will receive an email to check and approve your final submission.

POST-SUBMISSION PROCESS

After you have submitted your manuscript to the NIHMS system:

1. The submitted documents are converted into PMC-ready formats (Web and PDF versions). NIHMS notifies the reviewer when conversion is complete.
2. Log in to NIHMS, review the PMC-formatted Web and PDF versions, and approve them or request corrections.
3. The manuscript is made available in PMC following the embargo period (time publisher has exclusive rights to distribute the article).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CHIPTS Publication Management Webpage: https://chipts.ucla.edu/publication-managment/

NIHMS Help: https://www.nihms.nih.gov/submission/manuscript_list/

For more information, please contact Enrique Sanchez at EESanchez@mednet.ucla.edu.

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

National HIV Testing Day: Watch New Video with Key Leaders

As we approach National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) on June 27th, our latest FYI video features Kayla Quimbley, an Advocates for Youth Activist, National Youth HIV/AIDS Ambassador, and member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. In the video, Ms. Quimbley moderates a conversation with Harold Phillips, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, about the importance of the annual observation.

Watch their conversation here:

National HIV Testing Day Theme

“Take the Test & Take the Next Step,” this year’s NHTD theme, is a call to action to encourage HIV testing as the first step to good sexual health, regardless of the result. Due to the expansion of HIV self-testing, as Dr. Mermin noted, people can take at-home HIV tests and know their results in 20 minutes. “Getting an HIV test is an essential step in the pathway for better health,” Dr. Mermin emphasized. He also touted CDC’s National HIV, STI, and Hepatitis Locator, which helps find nearby places that offer free HIV testing by entering a ZIP code. Find the locator here.

Mr. Phillips noted that this year’s theme is one of empowerment, acknowledging that ongoing HIV stigma and discrimination affect HIV testing, which can, however, be dismantled person-by-person through increased HIV testing. He also noted that HIV testing is foundational to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and a key pillar of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative. Additionally, he shared that the expansion of HIV testing to emergency departments, pharmacies, and community health centers, in tandem with the growth of HIV self-testing, is key to increasing the number of people who know their HIV status.

Additional Resources

Watch the conversation with Mr. Phillips and Dr. Mermin. For additional HIV testing resources, please visit:

• CDC’s Get Tested web page for free, fast, and confidential sexual health testing near you.
• takemehome.orgExit Disclaimer for information on how to order HIV self-tests. This site is a collaboration between Emory University, Building Healthy Online Communities, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NASTAD, OraSure, and Signal.