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The Network (ATDN) is a national, not for profit organization that provides case management, treatment and care access education and information, advocacy and counseling, and other services for people with chronic hepatitis, AIDS, and HIV/Hepatitis co-infection. There is no fee, charge or donation required to receive our services.

We accept and appreciate donations of any amount, but a contribution is not required to receive our services. Many of our services are provided by volunteers, so please fill out the Request Information Form first for help getting drugs or services. Please include your zip code and/or city and state. Names and return phone numbers are also very helpful. Income isvery helpful, including any benefits you already receive so we can find programs you are eligible for easier. If you are unable to e-mail us for any reason, our national toll-free number is 1-(800) 734-7104

People with HIV or HIV/Hepatitis co-infection who live in the New York City area (all boroughs as well as surrounding areas and parts of New Jersey) can enroll in our no fee, no insurance required case management program.

Nineandahalfminutes.org

For information on the 9 1/2 Minutes campaign of Act Against AIDS, including what you can do to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and tools you can use to spread the word and participate, please visit www.nineandahalfminutes.org

Participate Tuesday, April 14, 2009 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm EDT. Participants should dial: 1-800-288-8976.ÊWhen prompted, please provide the title of the call, "Act Against AIDS Campaign." To ensure an adequate number of phone lines for the briefing, registration is strongly encouraged by 12:00 pm EDT (noon) on Monday, April13. To confirm participation, send an email to info@cdcnpin.org. Please enter "Act Against AIDS Campaign" in the subject line of your email. In addition, you are encouraged to enter the call queue 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Digital playback of the telebriefing will be available from Tuesday April 14, 2009 at 5:00 pm EDT until Monday April 20, 2009 at 11:59 pm (EDT). You may access playback by dialing: 1-800-475-6701 and entering access code: 995983.

HIV Treatment Guidelines

The latest HIV Treatment Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents, as well as guidelines for the treatment and prevention of opportunistic infections are available in their latest updates at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

The final decision about what treatment regimen would be best for you in the short term and long term is best decided upon by you and your doctor. Let us know if you are having trouble paying for HIV or chronic hepatitis treatment.

NYS Budget Health Reforms 2009-2010

On April 3, 2009, the New York State Legislature approved the State Fiscal Year 2009 to 2010 Health Budget. Last yearÕs Budget overhauled the Medicaid reimbursement system for hospital clinics and community clinics; this yearÕs Budget overhauls the reimbursement system for hospital inpatient services and nursing homes, and establishes a work group to review home care reimbursement. The Budget also reduces hospital inpatient rates and increases rates of payment for hospital clinics, community health centers, and practitioners, and incentivizes the adoption of Òmedical homeÓ standards. Of particular importance in this economic downturn are significant changes in eligibility and enrollment rules that will allow more New Yorkers to sign up for public health insurance. Finally, this Budget includes major initiatives to strengthen MedicaidÕs pharmacy operations.

This Special Edition of the Medicaid Update highlights the reform measures advanced in this yearÕs Budget.

2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines

The 2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines have been released to the Federal Register. These guidelines help determine eligibility for a great number of programs.

Medicaid Watch

Medicaid Watch of March 2009 has been released by Community AIDS National Network (CANN).

"God gave us power to make smart decisions, to cure diseases, to alleviate suffering" - President Barack Obama

Viral Hepatitis (Hep C and Hep B)

HCV and HCV/HIV co-infection Group

Midtown Manhattan Hepatitis C Support Group
The meeting is today, Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 at 6:15 PM. The location is 560 1st Ave. (between 30th and 31st). Free of charge and is open to patients, friends and families from all other offices and hospitals.

The guest speaker will be Tracy Swan, Hepatitis/HIV Project Director at Treatment Action Group.
She works with other activists, people living with HIV and HCV, researchers, clinicians and industry for better HCV research and drug development, and promotes policies to broaden access to high quality care and treatment for HIV and HCV. She is an expert advisor to the US FDA and writes extensively on HIV and HCV co-infection issues.

The main entrance is at NYU Medical Center - Smilo conference room 1301. You can walk through the main entrance and ask security for directons.

This group is facilitated by our good friends Ronni Marks and Leena Hong, RPA-C. Refreshments are provided by 3 Rivers Pharmaceuticals. So please attend!

Carlos Arboleda Remembrance

On April 28th, 2009 HIV treatment advocate Carlos Arboleda passed away. He worked with GMHC, NMAC, NDRI, and POZ, and contributed his writing to POZ, Treatment Issues, ACRIA Update, and many others. A memorial forÊCarlos will take place on Tuesday, May 26 from 7:00-9:30 PM at: GMHC, 119 West 24th Street, 11th floor i New York City. Please join HernanÊArboleda and Carlos' friends and colleagues in honoring Carlos' memory and celebrating his life. Feel free to share stories about Carlos and bring photos or other mementos. Please tellÊanyone who knew Carlos about the memorial.ÊIf Êyou can, e-mail Jill Cadman at jacadman@optonline.net if you will attend so she can let GMHC know how many people to expect.Ê(from Donna Kaminski)

"God gave us power to make smart decisions, to cure diseases, to alleviate suffering" - President Barack Obama

We are Watching and Tired of Waiting!

AIDS WATCH RALLY
Nat'l Association of People With AIDS, Campaign To End AIDS, DC Fights Back
Date: Monday, April 27, 2009
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Freedom Plaza Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 408-0305
Email: info@campaigntoendaids.org

Description
C2EA, in collaboration with NAPWA and DC Fights Back, will have a rally April 27 at 1:30pm on Freedom Plaza - 2 blocks from the White House and across the street from DC's Mayor's office. The theme of the rally is We are Watching and Tired of Waiting!

In the 17 years of AIDSWatch, tens of thousands of American citizens have died of HIV & AIDS while waiting for our leaders to answer the call. We will demand that our nation's leaders complete a plan that provides an outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States. We will also demand that the communities that make up the core of the epidemic across the country be given opportunity for meaningful input and leadership in its development - for example, AIDSWatch host city Washington DC has the highest HIV infection rates in the nation with no comprehensive plan on the horizon. If we end the epidemic in the Nation's Capitol, we can end it anywhere.

We will also celebrate the creation of the Denver Principles. Created in 1983, the DP demanded that individuals living - and dying - of HIV & AIDS would be treated with respect and dignity regardless of sex, sexuality, gender, race, and religion. In 2009, as people are living - and still dying - it is more important than ever to take our place in leading the fight in ending this epidemic. With Ryan White Care Act reauthorization, the creation and implementation of a national HIV & AIDS strategy, and a historic revamping of national healthcare, people living with HIV & AIDS must show our faces, voices, and actions to ensure urgent action.

Registration is open for the 17th annual AIDSWatch 2009! If you haven't registered, go to www.napwa.org and click the AIDSWatch logo.

You are invited to come to Washington DC April 27-29 along with hundreds of advocactes from across the country to tell Congress that this is our year! We must demand that our leaders develop and outcome-driven strategy to end the HIV & AIDS epidemic in the United States.

Tribe Marmotini Prediction

Let's hope Phil is in a good mood today and we don't have too much more winter weather to deal with. This year might require a consensus of Ground Hogs. Update: A member of the Tribe Marmotini, Phil had to be dragged out of a box for today's performance. He augured six more weeks of Winter are in store for us. Have you all gotten your flu shots? Some of us really wish we had. Kinda like finding out where the nearest HRSA sponsored pay what you can afford health clinic is located before you are sick. Yeah, they do preventive and dental, so check it out.

Over 18 and Homeless?

Advocates claim denial of services to straight and LGBT young adults, and host a townhall meeting on Wednesday, March 11th at 6:30pm at 208 West 13th St. According to a press release, "Although New York State policy allows long-term shelter access to homeless adults over 18 years of age, countless homeless young adults over 18 are being denied this right. They have been told they are "too young" and have been sent to youth agencies that can only offer short term shelter."

Request Assistance Update

The Network (ATDN) is a community-based organization located in New York City, where we provide direct case management services to New Yorkers with HIV and HIV/Hepatitis co-infection. We also have a national assistance program called The Access Project that serves people with HIV, chronic hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and other diseases. Check with your state's webpage for phone numbers and links to a wide range of resources. Use the Request Assistance form or leave a message at 1-800-734-7104, extension 22. Using Request Assistance form will get you the fastest response.

National Black History Month

The Black AIDS Institute released The State of AIDS in Black America 2009 report. Our friends at LIFEbeat, an organization dedicated to reaching America's youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention, have links to the day's website. LIFEbeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community.

Monday, January 19, 2009 we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. That day and every day can be a day of service to each other and to our country. Click the picture for more information.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Barack Obama was inaugurated as the next President of the United States of America. President Obama is the 44th President of the United States.

Urgent Action Required

January 21, 2009 The number of people who die from liver disease, with or without HIV co-infection is staggering. It doesn't have to be inevitable, but we will continue to lose our leaders and our advocates and our friends and families and hundreds of millions of people who we have never even met unless we do something about it. We have an opportunity to start now, joining a growing number of viral hepatitis advocates who need our support - including many who have fought for people with HIV and AIDS for years. Attached is a letter organizations throughout the country are asked to sign onto. Please pass it on or contact your elected representatives - especially your senators. We can't stand by and do nothing while we lose more family or friends - or another hero. post January 21, 2009

Governor David A. Paterson sent a letter to President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden offering an agenda for federal aid to states. Governor Paterson joined Governors Deval Patrick (Mass.), Jennifer Granholm (Mich.), Jon Corzine (N.J.), Ted Strickland (Ohio) and Jim Doyle (Wis.) in praising the President-elect for heeding the public's call for action, and his proposal for a comprehensive economic recovery package.

HIV Prevention Programs - New Programs Added to the CDC's list. Health care access for all residents of the United States is still be the most profound and lasting - not to mention job creating and cost reducing - prevention program for hundreds of diseases the people in this country deal with as they live their lives. Let's decide to prevent and treat them all in 2009.

Effective Hepatitis C Treatment? - Peginterferon (Pegasys, Peg Intron) taken without the drug ribavirin, even for well over a year, does not work as "maintenance therapy" for people with Hepatitis C who did not respond to the approved combination of ribavirin and peginterferon. Peginterferon when taken with ribavirin works in other situations - sometimes eliminating the virus - but peginterferon taken without ribavirin as "maintenance therapy" produced no clinical benefits. The lead investigator of the HALT-C study suggests that anyone using peginterferon in this manner should stop doing so. Overall, about 50% of people with chronic hepatitis C who take pegylated interferon and ribavirin have a sustained virological response (SVR). The success rate can vary based on the HCV genotype, with genotypes 1 and 4 having a lower success rate than genotypes 2 or 3. There are many new drug combinations being studied for HCV treatment. They will hopefully provide new treatment options for people with chronic HCV, including people with HIV/HCV co-infection and people who have not responded to previous therapy.

Urgent Action Required

This is extremely important to the fiscal stability of State and County governments across the United States. We need to support Main Street as much as we need to solve the fiscal problems of Wall Street. Support Main Street and include FMAP in the bailout/stimulus bill.

Medicaid Relief in Economic Stimulus Package

• Provides fiscal relief to all States,and local governments who have a share in Medicaid expenditures with their States,and territories through a temporary increase of Federal Medicaid funding through the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for fiscal year 2009


• Provides relief to all States and local governments who have a share in Medicaid expenditures with their States,and territories but targets more relief to States in greater economic distress as measured through three factors: the State employment data,foreclosure rates,and food stamps


• Exempts extraordinary employer pension contributions from the calculation of personal income for the purposes of establishing a State' s Federal medical assistance percentage. Although we will continue to fight for an appropriate Stimulus Package in the future, calling your Senators and supporting Senate Bill (S.3656) - the PATH Act is crucial for you to do today.

Effective Hepatitis C Treatment? Peginterferon (Pegasys, Peg Intron) taken without the drug ribavirin, even for well over a year, does not work as "maintenance therapy" for people with Hepatitis C who did not respond to the approved combination of ribavirin and peginterferon. Peginterferon when taken with ribavirin works in other situations - sometimes eliminating the virus - but peginterferon taken without ribavirin as "maintenance therapy" produced no clinical benefits. The lead investigator of the HALT-C study suggests that anyone using peginterferon in this manner should stop doing so. Overall, about 50% of people with chronic hepatitis C who take pegylated interferon and ribavirin have a sustained virological response (SVR). The success rate can vary based on the HCV genotype, with genotypes 1 and 4 having a lower success rate than genotypes 2 or 3. There are many new drug combinations being studied for HCV treatment. They will hopefully provide new treatment options for people with chronic HCV, including people with HIV/HCV co-infection and people who have not responded to previous therapy.

Tibotec announces request for Treatment Education Proposals. This is a special initiative. Like many other pharmaceutical companies, Tibotec also has an online mechanism for applying for other types of grants and sponsorship as well.

Medicare Part D Open Enrollment and Other Programs - It is open enrollment time for Medicare Part D. This is the way that many people in the United States get their prescription drugs paid for. You have to be careful to choose a plan that is right for you and your condition. If you hve chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C, for example, make sure that everything that you might need is covered under the plan you choose. There is a government website that lists every plan that you could get (depending on your income or your age, you may be eligible for special no or very low cost plans) and what drugs must be covered by every plan.

It is very important to ask as many questions as you think of about the different plans. If you have HIV, for example, you want to make sure you pick a plan that you can afford, and which covers the medications you take. It's also very important to pick a plan that does not have a prescription drug coverage cap - in other words, you should try to avoid a plan that caps your HIV medications out at $2500 a year. If you choose such a plan you would probably be stuck paying the best price you could find for your medications. It's better to plan now then ending up stopping your meds because you can't afford to pay for them. There are very few generic drugs for the treatment of HIV or hepatitis at this point in time, so don't be overly impressed by a plan that offers no co-payment or a low premium. Speak with one or more people you trust who have your best interests at heart.

If you are very low income the government does provide plans that charge you nothing or very little. If you are eligible for Medicaid, for example, you can probably find a plan that provides you with no cost coverage. But you need a good Case Manager or benefits counselor to assist you unless you feel comfortable negotiating the information and discussions yourself.

Maraviroc Information

Pfizer's re-evaluation of the MERIT study using the new enhanced Trofile assay

November 2008 FDA Approved Selzentry (maraviroc) label

Full Prescribing Information is available at www.selzentry.com

ADAP Report 2008 Summary - The 2008 National ADAP Monitoring Project Annual Report provides the latest data on state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs). Sign on letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to urge support of ADAP coverage of the Medicare Part D "donut" hole (TrOOP), and the Clinton/Smith Early Treatment for HIV Act. Please sign on with Kali Lindsey at klindsey@taepusa.org

We celebrate our 20th Anniversary all year until October 6, 2009. Our crucial health care access and coverage services always include a wide range of support services such as housing and rental assistance referrals and advocacy, treatment counseling, clinical care referrals and case management, legal referrals and other community based services. Donate twenty dollars, more if you can - less if you can't. It's all tax-deductible as we are a not-for-profit. Thanks! And if you need help, let us know.

The Network is a national, non- profit group. We provide no-fee case management, advocacy and counseling, and treatment and access information and referrals (English or Spanish) to people with AIDS/HIV, chronic hepatitis, and other diseases.

FDA has granted accelerated approval for a new anti-HIV drug. The drug, Intelence (also known as etravirine or TMC-125) was approved based on two trials conducted mostly in men who had very few HIV treatment options. Over 3000 people have also received the drug through an Expanded Access Program. The links below are for several press releases, including one from the FDA, Tibotec (the makers of the drug), and The Fair Pricing Coalition. The FDA approved label for the drug is included as well. In addition, there is a press release by The Fair Pricing Coalition on a stunning increase in the price of Atripla and other drugs made by BMS.

• FDA notice about Intelence approval


• The Fair Pricing Coalition commends Tibotec and parent company leadership


• Tibotec Press Release about Intelence (etravirine), including positive comments regarding Intelence pricing from The Fair Pricing Coalition


• Patient Information on Intelence (etravirine) from the FDA


• The FDA approved, entire label for Intelence (etravirine)

HIV and Hepatitis C Meeting in New York City. January 25, 2008. Please download the agenda and form to register. Limited space! Check it out now. Isentress (raltegravir) Approval

The first ever integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV disease, Isentress (raltegravir) was approved.

States are continually being updated with information on HIV and Hepatitis services and treatments through The Access Project.

New HIV Treatment Guidelines have been released, along with Fact Sheets in English and Spanish. An important article was published in Hepatology, Vol.46, No.6, 2007 that highlights a meeting of the Antiviral Products Advisory Committee that discussed the development and approval of treatments for hepatitis C (HCV). Full transcripts of the meeting are available to the public.

Find out all about advocacy and activism on Ryan White/ADAP, Medicaid and ETHA and a new group, Hep C Advocates UNITED ! at the newly redesigned website of Project Inform . The December 2007 version of Medicaid Watch is now available for download in PDF format. The first ever integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV disease was approved.

Monogram Biosciences and Pfizer, the makers of the newly approved drug Selzentry (maraviroc), released the results of tests that showed that the Trofile assay is much more reliable and specific than the SensiTrop assay. Until further studies are conducted Pfizer suggests that the Trofile test be used to determine CCR5 tropism if you are considering taking the drug Selzentry.

The drug fosamprenavir (Lexiva) was approved as a once a day treatment for protease inhibitor naive individuals. Ritonavir (100mg) is taken with 1400 mg fosamprenavir. GSK's abacavir and Epzicom HLA-B*5701 allele findings prompt a survey study - GSK is conducting a study called TEACH (The Evaluation of Attitudes and practice patterns of HIV clinicians when Considering the use of HLA-B*5701 in clinical practice) that will document the experiences of US-based HIV clinicians using this pharmacogenetic test. Any US-based clinician may register at the study website. Discuss all treatment options and decisions with qualified medical professionals who know your health history.

The U.S. Senate will debate Medicare reform legislation. They can play a major role in fixing this problem by including the ADAP as TrOOP provision. The House of Representatives has already approved this provision. The Senate needs to hear that this is a priority for people with HIV/AIDS and a fix that is badly needed. Please, call them!

Call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at (800) 828-0498. Ask to be connected to your Senator's office. If you don't know who your Senators are, go to www.congress.org and enter your zip code in the upper left corner. If you can't call, send an email to both of your Senators with the same message. Go to www.senate.gov to find their websites and how to email them.

Medicaid Watch April 2008 - covers state Medicaid developments, and reports on other state health assistance programs

The drug Selzentry (maraviroc) was added to New York State ADAP. It is also available through NYS Medicaid, which also covers the Trofile test that should be done before using maraviroc.

FDA has granted accelerated approval for a new anti-HIV drug. The drug is Intelence (also known as etravirine or TMC-125).

On Monday, President Bush kicked off the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations process with the release of his budget proposal. The President's FY2009 budget flat funds the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH). We need your help in raising awareness of Members of Congress and asking their support for increased funding for hepatitis C activities at the federal level. Hepatitis advocates are asking for $50 million for hepatitis funding, which is an increase of $32.4 million over the current funding of $17.6 million.

Hepatitis C Book

It's called Hepatitis C Choices . This is the 4th edition. The 3rd edition was great. The 4th is a learning and counseling experience you won't soon forget. In fact, before you even start the book you might want to orient yourself to the whole idea of being HCV positive. It's called Hep C Discussion Point. You get very helpful responses to the questions you answer.

But back to the book. You can download all of the book or the individuals chapters of interest. It includes an update on state of the art treatment of HCV, and lots of very useful information on living with HCV.

There are several chapters on alternative approaches to treating HCV, including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Chinese medicine. The chapters on the Immune System, Western medical treatment of HCV are exceptional. What makes the reading so compelling are the decades of caring experience treating and caring for people with HCV that comes across throughout the book.

Adult Viral Hepatitis Coordinators has a state by state listing.

Prezista (darunavir) Approval

- Traditional approval of Prezista
- New dosing regimen for treatment-naive patients
- New 400 mg tablets
- Revised Pregnancy Category

On October 21, 2008, FDA granted traditional approval to Prezista (darunavir) 600 mg, co-administered with 100 mg ritonavir and with other antiretroviral agents, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced adult patients. Prezista was granted accelerated approval on June 23, 2006, based on analysis of plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in two controlled studies of 24 weeks duration. The traditional approval is based on a 48 week phase 3 study (TMC114-C214) in treatment-experienced patients and continuation of two controlled trials of 96 weeks duration in clinically advanced, treatment-experienced patients, confirming durability of the virologic response.

In addition to the traditional approval, a new dosing regimen for treatment-naive patients was approved. The recommended dose for treatment-naive adult patients is Prezista 800 mg (two 400 mg tablets) taken with ritonavir 100 mg once daily, with food. The type of food does not affect exposure to darunavir.

The dosing regimen for treatment-experienced patients remains unchanged as Prezista 600 mg taken with ritonavir 100 mg twice daily, with food.

New York City Case Management

For HIV+ people - Confidential help of all kinds for people of all kinds. We make things work for you. No fee, charge or insurance required. E-mail us at The Network, or call our toll-free number at (800) 734-7104 for help getting housing, food, insurance or benefits assistance, treatment, care, living expenses, legal referrals and counseling. HIV+ people anywhere in the New York City area welcome to join.

• Request Assistance
• HIV Treatments
• Hepatitis Treatments
• The Access Project
• Patient Assistance Programs
• Simple Fact Sheets
• Make a Donation
• Federal poverty Guidelines

Information and Advocacy, and Education have been updated. A September 10th Event in New York City: The Fight for a National AIDS Strategy and the Presidential Candidates' Positions on the Domestic AIDS Crisis has been added as well.

North Carolina ADAP Financial Eligibility Increase to 300%, effective October 1, 2008. For a complete description of the program and what is covered check out this new document

New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Shumer have written a letter to the current President of the United States urging him to stop disastrous cuts to health care services to the people of New York State. Every other state in the country will be affected as well. If you receive your health care and support services (such as primary care, renal care, mental health day services, family planning services, psychiatric rehabilitation, methadone clinic, developmental disability clinic) through a community clinic or a hospital out-patient clinic it is likely that you won't be able to anymore. The states of Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Alaska, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Connecticut, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin have already let the HHS know of the incredibly negative effect this CMS rule will have.

Updates to Patient Assistance Programs for Hepatitis Treatments, HIV Treatments, and Other Treatments. If you want to see links for specific drugs not included, let us know . We have had a 600% increase in people with (and without) insurance requesting assistance accessing treatments and care in the last two months alone. Please use the above form to do so.

New York State HIV Care Network contacts have been updated. People with HIV/AIDS and/or chronic hepatitis in New York City and surrounding areas are invited to seek Case Management Services to access and stay in care and on the treatments prescribed by their doctors. Call 1-800-734-7104 or e-mail network@atdn.org with Case Management in the subject line.

Viread has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B. The FDA has recommended that Hepsera be used with Epivir-HB following the results of a 144 week study.

Our good friends at Treatment Action Group (TAG) have released, The 2008 Pipeline Report: HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Microbicides in Development. It's available in PDF format. (503 KB)

August 11, 2008 - Since we created the Request Information post for assistance, hundreds of people have used it. Just a reminder that there is also an updated How to Use The Access Project page and The Access Project State Index . New York and Indiana and Colorado have been posted. More states and updates are being posted.

Updates in Progress - Call our 1-800-734-7104 number and get case management services if you live anywhere in New York City. Thousands of pages of information were collected by Ethan, LeRoi, Jeff and volunteers. We spent several months collecting information to be added to our website in a new format. We expect updating of the existing site will take place during August. You will see all Patient Assistance Programs and treatment access programs, all states of The Access Project updated, and lots more - linked and connected in a way that will make access a much easier process to learn about and get information about. New information is available by e-mail now.

Follow the International AIDS Conference in English, Spanish and other languages. Please e-mail a Request Information post for assistance, or call our national number at 1-800-734-7104

On August 21-22, 2008 - The Health Justice Action Conference (H-JAC) sponsored HIV and HCV treatment in California by the Center for Health Justice is now posted

Remember that an Request Information form will get you any information by e-mail. Since posting the form hundreds of people have asked for help from all over the country. Please provide as much background as possible, espcially about any current insurance coverage, your income (household) and anything else you believe will help. Pages describing Case Management services have also been updated, including our New York City based community case management program.

In addition, Education and Information has been updated. If you know of or are sponsoring educational or informational events let is know and we'll list them. Health and Advocacy has also been updated.

Now each and every one of us needs to make sure that all of our elected officials know what our needs are. Call them, write them, e-mail them or visit them in Washington DC or in their homes offices in your CD (Congressional District). That goes for all the elected officials in your state as well. We are only going to be able to solve our problems together. Don't be shy. It's your government. Participate Enter your Zip Code to find your officials

Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Contact the health center you find using your Zip Code. According to HRSA, here are some of the services you should be able to access

• Checkups when you're well
• Treatment when you're sick
• Complete care when you're pregnant
• Immunizations and checkups for your children
• Dental care and prescription drugs for your family
• Mental health and substance abuse care if you need it

To check out ongoing advocacy efforts visit Project Inform's website. Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED ! is a national, grassroots network of individuals and organizations fighting for increased funding for hepatitis programs and legislation to mount a comprehensive federal effort to fight the disease. To join HCAU, send an email to Ryan Clary with subjectin the subject field. Please include your name and city/state in the email.

Hepatitis C Activists take note: Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED! is a national, grassroots network of individuals and organizations fighting for increased funding for hepatitis programs and legislation to mount a comprehensive federal effort to fight the disease. Be a part of this movement! To join Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED!, send an email to . In the email, put your first name (and last name, if you are comfortable) and city/state. We will communicate through a moderated listserv and monthly conference calls.

The January 2008 version of Medicaid Watch is now available for download in PDF format.

New HIV Treatment Guidelines have been released, along with Fact Sheets in English and Spanish.

An important article was published in Hepatology, Vol.46, No.6, 2007 that highlights a meeting of the Antiviral Products Advisory Committee that discussed the development and approval of treatments for hepatitis C (HCV). Full transcripts of the meeting are available to the public.

Find out all about advocacy and activism on Ryan White/ADAP, Medicaid and ETHA and a new group, Hep C Advocates UNITED ! at the newly redesigned website of Project Inform . The December 2007 version of Medicaid Watch is now available for download in PDF format. The first ever integrase inhibitor for the treatment of HIV disease was approved.

Monogram Biosciences and Pfizer, the makers of the newly approved drug Selzentry (maraviroc), released the results of tests that showed that the Trofile assay is much more reliable and specific than the SensiTrop assay. Until further studies are conducted Pfizer suggests that the Trofile test be used to determine CCR5 tropism if you are considering taking the drug Selzentry. Contact The Network if you need more information about this important information.

The drug fosamprenavir (Lexiva) was approved as a once a day treatment for protease inhibitor naive individuals. Ritonavir (100mg) is taken with 1400 mg fosamprenavir. Discuss all treatment options and decisions with qualified medical professionals who know your health history.

States are continually being updated with information on HIV and Hepatitis services and treatments through The Access Project. Some recently updated states include Hawaii , Kentucky , Washington , Rhode Island, Oregon, and Alabama .

Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Ed Towns (NY-10)

Health Care Reform Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, May 9th 2009 10am - 1pm
St Francis College, 180 Remsen St (Court/Clinton) Auditorium

Congressman Towns welcomes your views about health care reform. Rep. Towns supports President Obama's plan to reform our system of health care this year with a Town Hall meeting to get critical stakeholder input. We invite Brooklyn residents, businesses, providers, and federal, state and local government representitives to share your views on targeted panels. We particularly need to hear from people who lack health insurance, have trouble finding quality and affordable health care, or have experienced problems with Medicaid or Medicare. "In 2005, over 300,000 Kings County residents lacked health insurance. This is unacceptable! Health care reform has to happen now, because it is critical for Brooklyn and the nation, escpecially during this economic downturn," according to Representative Towns.

Please plan to attend and share your views with Rep. Towns Please RSVP to be a speaker. Contact Edna Johnson or Karen Cherry for more information (718) 855-8018.