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];
The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows safety net health care entities to access discounts on medications they provide, and to use the savings to invest in expanded programs and services. This study characterizes current use of the 340B Program by health care entities that serve people living with HIV and vulnerable to HIV in California, ... [Read More];
The California State Office of AIDS has launched a financial assistance program for eligible persons currently using or seeking PrEP. This informational sheet provides 3 examples of potential PrEP-AP candidates and a simple enrollment flow to aid PrEP navigators, benefits enrollment workers, and others.
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