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.
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 […]
Among the most glaring health disparities in California is the disproportionate prevalence of HIV among individuals in the correctional system. These individuals are also disproportionately African-American and Latino and many experience repeated arrests and releases over their lifetimes. Interventions carried out during incarceration or post-release have the potential to impact not only the HIV positive […]
Faced with a projected $9 billion state budget deficit in Fiscal Year 2012-13, Governor Brown proposed significant changes in funding for California’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) in his January budget, including steep cost-sharing fees which will impact half of the program’s 42,000 low-income beneficiaries. The new fees would for the first time require ADAP […]
In order to develop a surveillance system for California that best serves public health needs and assures the state of obtaining its “fair share” of Ryan White funding, this policy brief recommends: 1) expanding outreach efforts; 2)erasing the distinct on between and HIV and AIDS status to redeploy resources used in reclassification; 3) assuring that […]
