HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
July 17, 2024
Check us out at NACCHO360!
Coming to NACCHO360 and looking for sessions related to HIV, STI, Harm Reduction, and RIM? Check out our comprehensive guide to get a quick glance of sessions you don’t want to miss!
NACCHO Announcements
Community-Tailored Harm Reduction Marketing and Communications Plan Webinar: Recording and Slides
Last week, NACCCHO and KFF held a joint webinar titled Community-Tailored Harm Reduction Marketing and Communications Plan. In this webinar, we discussed NACCHO’s collaboration with Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and eight local harm reduction programs to develop community-tailored harm reduction marketing and communications campaigns and a toolkit. Click here to access the recording and here to access the slides.
OFFICE HOURS: Community-Tailored Harm Reduction Marketing and Communications Plan
On Wednesday, July 31st, at 2pm EDT/ 11am PDT, NACCHO and ORAU will hold Office Hours to share further about the toolkit and discuss marketing and communications challenges and successes. Participants will get the chance to ask questions, share ideas and expertise with each other, and walk away with knowledge and resources to improve their own marketing campaigns. Please register in advance.
NACCHO Applauds FDA Approval of First Point-of-Care RNA Hepatitis C Test
On June 27, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Cepheid Xpert hepatitis C (HCV) test, the first-ever point-of-care RNA test for HCV. This new tool could allow same-day diagnosis of HCV and linkage to treatment, a significant improvement over existing testing methods which involve a rapid antibody test followed by a confirmatory RNA test, the results of which can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to obtain.
To continue reading NACCHO’s statement, check out the blog here.
HIV, STI, & Hepatitis Resources and News
Grant Opportunity: Ending the HIV/HCV/Syphilis Epidemics in Indian Country II (ETHIC II): A Syndemic Elimination Program for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Urban Indian Communities
The purpose of this program is to support communities to directly increase the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and syphilis. Successful applicants will work toward a reduction of new HIV infections and relevant co-morbidities, specifically syphilis and HCV infections; improve HIV/HCV/syphilis-related health outcomes; and reduce HIV/HCV/syphilis-related health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. In four separate but related parts, this initiative aims to implement effective and innovative strategies, interventions, approaches, and services to reduce new HIV/HCV/syphilis infections among AI/AN communities in the U.S. This initiative’s overarching goals are to: (1) Reduce new HIV, HCV, and syphilis infections to less than 3,000 per year by 2030; and (2) achieve a 90 percent reduction in new HCV infections and a 65 percent reduction in mortality, compared to a 2015 baseline.
Read more here.
OASH Tribal Consultation for Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) will hold a Tribal consultation on August 5, 2024, to discuss the syphilis and congenital syphilis outbreak among Tribal citizens in your respective areas. OASH is hosting a virtual Tribal consultation to collect input and inform the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force. The logistical information for the consultation follows:
Title: OASH Tribal Consultation for Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis When: Monday, August 5, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada)
You must register in advance for this meeting. Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
To learn more, check out the announcement here.
Bipartisan Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act Introduced in Congress
On June 26th, Congresspersons Caraveo (D-CO-08) and Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) introduced bipartisan legislation to address the “alarming increase in syphilis impacting pregnant women, mothers, and infants nationwide.” Representative Caraveo stated about the bills goal, ““Today, I am introducing bipartisan legislation to provide states with best practices for screening and treatments of syphilis so every mother and child can receive the care they need to live a healthy life.”
The Maternal and Infant Syphilis Prevention Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to states on:
- Improving access to expand syphilis screening for pregnant women and infants;
- Best practices for educating medical professionals and pregnant women;
- Strategies for integrating telehealth services regarding syphilis;
- Best practices for increasing testing for syphilis in the 3rd trimester and at delivery; and
- Improving treatment for syphilis and congenital syphilis.
Read the text of the legislation: https://caraveo.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/caraveo.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/MaternalandInfantSyphilisPreventionAct.pdf
Ignorance Could Be Fueling Rising Spread of STDs, Poll Finds - U.S. News & World Report
A new poll highlights widespread misconceptions about STD transmission in the U.S., with many falsely believing they can only be spread through intercourse, potentially fueling their rising rates nationwide.
Federal Appeals Court Says Some Employers Can Exclude HIV Prep from Insurance Coverage - ABC News
The Federal Appeals Court exempted some employers from covering HIV PrEP and other preventive care under federal health insurance rules due to constitutional concerns, leaving the issue to lower courts.
