March 4, 2008

ACTION ALERT! STOP THE HRSA HOUSING POLICY AMENDMENT

Tell HRSA to stop homelessness!

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is trying to move forward with an inhumane 24-month lifetime cap on Ryan White emergency and transitional housing benefits. For many people living with AIDS, Ryan White CARE Act transitional housing dollars are the only thing preventing them from becoming homeless. Not only does the policy threaten to put people out on the street, it fails to account for people who are intermittently homeless and may need the benefit periodically.

"This program prevents people from losing their homes and allows them to pay their utility bills. Capping the Ryan White transitional housing dollars at two years is an absurd policy that could trigger a homelessness crisis," said Housing Works Director of National Advocacy Christine Campbell.

The Policy Notice 99-02 Amendment 1, slated to take effect on March 27, should be withdrawn because permanent housing options are simply not available in most of the country. In addition, Ryan White grantees are simply not equipped to track clients from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and sub grantee to sub grantee as implementation of the policy would require. This unfunded mandate fails to provide the appropriate flexibility for medical professionals and grantees require in making decisions about individual patient needs.

HRSA would start the 24 month clock running on the March 27, 2008—but there's still time to make a difference! Call your member of Congress and both Senators immediately. They can be reached via the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202)225-3121. Ask to speak with the staffer who handles HIV/AIDS issues or to the housing staffer. Ask the staffer to ask the member to contact Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and urge that the Housing Policy Amendment 99-02 be withdrawn immediately.

Please let the National AIDS Housing Coalition know the results of your contact by e-mailing nahc@nationalaidshousing.org. For more information and talking points, read NAHC's letter to Secretary Leavitt.

April 26, 2005

REVISED NEW YORK STATE REGULATIONS FOR HIV COUNSELING & TESTING AND LABORATORY REPORTING AVAILABLE ONLINE TO AIDS ISSUES UPDATE READERS

The new "2005 Guidance for HIV Counseling & Testing and New Laboratory Reporting Requirements," issued today by the New York State Department of Health, is available as a set of PDF files online at www.hwadvocacy.com/update/downloads/nysdoh_hiv_testing_regs.zip, or go to the story in this week's Update online and click the link.

In an effort to make HIV testing more routine, the new regulations simplify the informed-consent process required by law. They also require more stringent reporting of patients' CD4, viral-load and drug-resistance data, in order to track treatment and care patterns within populations. We'll have a full report on the new rules, along with community reaction, analysis and editorial comments in next week's Housing Works AIDS Issues Update.