HIV-AIDS

This project provides state public health input into the development of evidence-based, effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy in collaboration with partners at the community and national levels applying well-integrated, multidisciplinary research and analysis. 

One of the goals of this Project is to keep ASTHO members and other constituencies informed about new developments in national HIV/AIDS policy. ASTHO closely monitors announcements relating to the CDC Initiative, Advancing HIV Prevention (AHP), new guidelines that affect HIV prevention material review by state health officials, and other policy issues that affect states. Under guidance from the ASTHO Infectious Disease Policy Committee (IDPC), ASTHO establishes positions on discrete issues in HIV/AIDS policy.

ASTHO works with state health officials and their agencies to respond to emerging issues. Policy issue responses only occur, however, with member approval, and may include letters, position statements, position sign-ons with partner organizations, conference calls, articles, issue briefs, issue reports, or other mechanisms deemed appropriate by ASTHO members.

The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act was created by Congress in 1990 to provide care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. The program is intended to fill in the health care gaps for individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are either uninsured or under-insured by providing access to medical care and treatment. The program is administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Detailed information about the act can be obtained through HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau.

The act expired on Sep 30, 2005 and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 (PL 109-415) was signed into law on Dec 19, 2006. Resources and links about the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act:

Anna DeBlois Buchanan, MPH, Senior Director, Immunization and Infectious Disease