From 2010 to 2016, disparities have increased in terms of overall rates of new HIV diagnoses among California’s Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2010, Latino and White MSM had fairly similar HIV rates -- 17.3 new MSM cases per 100,000 White males and 20.2 per 100,000 Latino males. By 2016, rates in Whites had declined 29% to 12.2 per 100,000 males while increasing slightly among Latinos to 20.5 per 100,000 – resulting in a 68% higher rate of new HIV infections among Latino than white MSM. These data are particularly striking as, over the same period, ... [Read More];
Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace where qualified residents of California can purchase affordable health insurance. Given recent events in Washington D.C., you may have questions about how actions taken by the federal government will impact your health coverage. This guide is designed specifically to help people living with HIV and hepatitis C and people considering or currently prescribed medication for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
More people living with HIV (PLWH) now have their medical care covered by Medi-Cal thanks to the program’s expansion. Although the change is welcomed, it also has created challenges for those who need mental health or substance use services. In research recently published in Health Affairs, the Northern California HIV Policy Research Center found that fragmentation within Medi-Cal has created challenges for providers trying to determine which payer will cover specific behavioral health services, making it difficult for PLWH to obtain needed care. The article can be found here: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/pdf/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0414
Sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights (SRHR) are integral to gender equity, HIV prevention, and the provision of high-quality services for people of all genders living with HIV (PLWH). In the United States, safety net SHR services are primarily paid for by the federal government. In light of recent shifts in the domestic policy environment surrounding federal SRH programs, the Northern California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Center reviewed the role of these programs for cisgender women at risk of and living with HIV in California.
Recent trends suggest that declines in California’s adult tobacco use rates have stalled in the last few years, which has serious implications for reversing the substantial progress made in Californiato reduce tobacco-related diseases. Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are more likely to use tobacco compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Compared to their heterosexual, cisgender peers, SGM adults experience a younger age of smoking initiation, have higher frequency of smoking, score higher on nicotine dependence, and have elevated polysubstance use. With this policy brief, we aim to better understand the prevalence of smoking among sexual and gender minorities and ... [Read More];
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