Transgender men and others on the transmasculine spectrum have been largely excluded from HIV prevention research, policy, and practice. The Transmasculine Sexual Health and Reproductive Justice Research Study was part of a community-based participatory research project that engaged diverse transmasculine people and their healthcare providers to better understand their health needs, concerns, and priorities, including […]
After years of decline, sexually transmitted infections are increasing at alarming rates. The national rate of reported primary and secondary syphilis was over four times greater in 2016 than it had been in 2000. Syphilis cases increased by 18% between 2015 and 2016 alone. Much of this growth is attributable to cases among men who […]
In 2015, California saw over 4,700 new cases of HIV. Nationally, in the same year, California led the nation for HIV transmissions via injection drug use and among men who have sex with men who inject drugs. Other key groups impacted by both epidemics include women, people of color, those who are homeless and youth. […]
Our policy research center conducted a study in the summer of 2017 to understand the perspectives of frontline healthcare workers and generate recommendations for the state’s PrEP Assistance Program. We recently conducted a follow-up study to explore this topic in less populated, smaller California counties. In this report, we highlighted additional considerations and expanded upon […]
Despite large increases in PrEP use across California, there are sharp differences in uptake by age, gender, race/ethnicity and geographic region among Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
To improve accessibility of PrEP services, the California Department of Public Health has been authorized to develop a PrEP financial assistance program that will be modeled after the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). We conducted a study of the current ADAP enrollment system to identify best practices that could be incorporated into the new PrEP […]
The California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers are pleased to post this update on Social Security disability benefits, including the revised medical listings for HIV-related disabilities as well as the agency’s intent to now conduct Continuing Disability Reviews on HIV claims. The update is based on information gathered from Social Security Administration personnel; and other key […]
A bill recently introduced in the California legislature (AB1534) seeks to better integrate HIV treatment with primary care by requiring state-regulated health insurance plans to permit HIV specialists to be primary care providers if the HIV specialist requests primary care provider status and meets the health plan’s eligibility criteria for all specialists seeking primary care […]
The Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) are 10 categories of health services that insurance plans must cover. This brief report highlights how the Affordable Care Act, specifically in its provision for EHBs, has improved coverage of behavioral health care services for low-income individuals living with HIV in California. The report also describes areas of improvement for […]
This study explored how a sample of California counties previously used the HIV Set-Aside of the SAPT Block Grant, which contributed over $12 million statewide to HIV early intervention services and hepatitis C screening and linkage to care in FY2015. The HIV Set-Aside was discontinued in FY2016 when California’s AIDS cases dropped below the eligibility […]
