The prevalence of mental health conditions among people living with HIV (PLWH) is high (23% among Medicare and 28% among Medicaid enrollees). Based on data from Medicare and Medicaid insurance claims from 2010, PLWH with mental health conditions had significantly higher treatment costs for both mental health and non-mental health conditions. These data support further examination of how managed care capitations are set and whether they account for these greater expenditures. Without adequate funding support, access for both mental health and physical health services for PLWH living with mental health conditions may be impacted.
Prior authorization requirements have been considered a successful cost containment strategy for health insurance companies. However, previous research indicates that such requirements have negative impacts on medication access and patient adherence. California Senate Bill 159 is a current proposal to prohibit health plans and insurers from requiring prior authorization and step therapy requirements for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP.) This policy brief reveals the perspectives of clinical providers of PrEP/PEP and PrEP/PEP navigators in California on prior authorization requirements to prescribe PrEP and PEP.
The United States(US) has experienced a surge of anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric,raising concerns about the influence on health outcomes for immigrants livingin the US. We conducted a qualitative study to understand how agencies inCalifornia were maintaining access to HIV care and prevention services forimmigrant clients. In this brief report, we describe the value of medical-legalpartnerships (MLPs) in addressing needs related to immigration andsupporting continuity of health care. We also outline facilitators for buildingthese partnerships between medical and legal services. Report available at: https://rdcu.be/bLrMg
Increasing access to HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) is a high priority to achieve the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. Broadening the scope of practice to allow pharmacists to be more involved in the delivery of PrEP/PEP may generate greater access, particularly in communities where physicians and other primary care providers are in short supply. This brief report describes attitudes about expanding the role of retail-based pharmacist involvement in prescribing PrEP/PEP in the state of California.
On March 22, 2019, the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers (CHPRC) convened a group of stakeholders representing public health, community-based organizations and academic sectors to discuss a data-driven approach to Los Angeles County’s plan for Getting to Zero. Leading experts presented a modeling study undertaken by investigators from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Southern California (USC), in partnership with the Division of HIV and STD Programs (DHSP) of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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