GMHC CEO Janet Weinberg Talks Change to Medicaid Drug Coverage in NY

Below is an editorial by Janet Weinberg that was posted on Huffington Post. Congratulations, Janet!

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) firmly opposed the state budget proposal to subject HIV anti-retrovirals, anti-psychotics, anti-rejection drugs and anti-depressants to prior approval. However, these medications were taken off the prior approval exemption list in the final New York budget. This means patients will need to seek approval from Medicaid before receiving medications recommended by their physicians unless their medications are on a predetermined list. This adds another layer of bureaucracy and delay to an already complex system. Click here to read the full editorial.

Stand Up for Medicaid Beneficiaries

Contact your New York State Assembly Member and Senator today and tell them to stand up for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Ask them to correct harmful changes to Medicaid in the Governor Cuomo’s budget that would impose barriers to beneficiaries and reduce access to care. Click here to find out how!

1. Requiring prior authorization for exempt classes of drugs such as HIV/AIDS anti-retrovirals, anti-psychotics, anti-rejection drugs and anti-depressants that are exempt. In the case of HIV, the most effective drugs are relatively new and still under patent.  Removing the exemption will create an additional layer of bureaucracy and delay patient access to necessary drugs.  It will limit doctors’ ability to prescribe the best latest treatment to their patients.  
2. Changes to the Preferred Drug List that would remove "provider prevails" patient protections.  This change would take decision-making power away from doctors who know their patients best.  Removing these protections would result in delayed treatment as prescribers would need to provide clinical justification for a non-preferred drug and wait for prior authorization.
3. The elimination of the “Part D Wrap” in Medicaid for dually eligible beneficiaries.  Elimination of the wrap would mean that beneficiaries would have to pay out-of-pocket for any prescription that is not covered by Medicaid Part D. The result would be that beneficiaries would not be able to access needed medications.
4. A two percent uniform across-the-board reduction in reimbursement for providers. This change would adversely affect client access to services because fewer providers would accept Medicaid beneficiaries.

Joan Tisch: Face to Face With a Living Legend 

by Marjorie J. Hill, CEO of Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)

"I have known several people afflicted with AIDS, some of whom have died, and I would like to be of service." ~ Joan Tisch

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, what do you say when you gaze directly into the eyes of a living legend, an icon of enormous generosity and humanity who has had so much impact on so many lives? There are one thousand butterflies fiercely beating in your stomach, a tear forming in your left eye; you get yourself together to proudly say: "Joan Tisch, I am honored to present to you the Inaugural Judy Peabody Humanitarian Award." And to the audience that rises in an ovation of applause you say: "Live like her." 
 
To read the full article, click here...
 
(This article also appeared in Huffington Post on March 11, 2011)

"We're Not Dolls! Don't Play With Women's Lives!"

On Thursday, March 10 (National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day), teams of volunteers and staff distributed HIV prevention materials to thousands of New Yorkers.  Despite the rain and wind, these teams were outside in five locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, talking to people about testing, safer sex and GMHC's services, particularly for women.  After the outreach effort, the teams gathered at GMHC to share about their experiences.  Most of the team members were struck by people's reactions to the signs they wore which had current and alarming statistics about HIV, women and girls in NYC such as:

• One in three New Yorkers living with HIV is a woman
• 90% of women living with HIV are Black or Hispanic
• 94% of teenage females living with HIV are Black or Hispanic

Many thanks to our volunteers and staff for their enthusiasm and help.  For more information about HIV/AIDS statistics on women and girls in NYC, please click here.

CEO Marjorie Hill featured in "The L Life: Extraordinary Lesbians Making a Difference"

Marjorie Hill is featured in a new book, launching this week, "The L Life: Extraordinary Lesbians Making a Difference," by Erin McHugh, photographs by Jennifer May. Erin uncovers rich stories of lesbians from all walks of life, capturing the incredible bravery and passion of ordinary people and celebrity names alike.

Erin McHugh is a former publishing executive and the author of nineteen books, including the five-volume series The Portable Queer. She lives in New York City and South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

For more information about the book, please visit www.abramsbooks.com.

Congratulations, Marjorie!

GMHC moving on April 15th

GMHC COO Janet Weinberg alongside move project leaders give an update on the organization's new quarters at West 33 Street, New York, NY 10001. Read more > >

GMHC Welcomes Governor Cuomo's Budget Flat Funding AIDS Institute

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) welcomes the flat funding of New York State's AIDS Institute as this will ensure the current level of service provision will be maintained.  GMHC also applauds efforts to cut wasteful spending such as the Governor's proposal to eliminate excess prison capacity.
 
"We appreciate that Governor Cuomo arrested the hemorrhaging of funding for critical HIV/AIDS services by flat funding the AIDS Institute," said Janet Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer at GMHC. "Still, three decades into the epidemic, everyday more New Yorkers find out they are HIV positive, and the number of people living with HIV who need critical services continues to grow." Click here to read the full release.