Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner today proposed a $31.5 billion budget for the state’s next fiscal year that contains draconian cuts to the Illinois Department of Public Health and HIV services. The state’s last fiscal year saw $26 million appropriated for HIV-related services, but Rauner proposed slashing HIV services in FY 2016 to $20 million, a nearly 25% reduction.
“The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) strongly opposes these proposed cuts,” noted Ramon Gardenhire, AFC’s vice president of policy. “We will vigorously work with the General Assembly, people living with HIV, service providers and community members to restore funding for these and other vital programs.”
An estimated 43,500 Illinoisans are living with HIV. The proposed budget, if enacted, would severely limit the ability of this population to access vital medication and maintain the supportive services needed to keep their condition manageable.
The State’s main HIV funding line supports housing, prevention, supportive services and health care programs for people with HIV. This funding also supports the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides life-saving medication to people with HIV.
Governor Rauner indicated that state funding for HIV services could be cut because many AIDS Drug Assistance Program clients will transition to Affordable Care Act programs.
“Nearly 1,800 people are newly diagnosed with HIV each year in Illinois,” continued Gardenhire, “and nearly 19,000 people who know they have HIV failed to get medical care in 2013. Any savings from the Affordable Care Act must be reinvested in testing, prevention, and linkage and engagement in care to further impact the HIV epidemic.”
The Governor’s budget also proposes reducing funding for the African American HIV/AIDS Response Fund by 66% to $500,000. This program, which addresses HIV in communities of color where the epidemic is most severe, is a vital source of funding.
“The responsible solution to the state’s budget problem is to generate the revenue needed to put Illinois on a path to sustainable prosperity,” said John Peller, AFC’s president/CEO. “We know there are many options for the state to generate adequate revenue. To say that there is ‘no choice but to make cuts’ is cynical and false.”
AFC calls on Governor Rauner and the legislature to identify sources of tax funding to replace the 2011 temporary income tax increase, which expired January 1, 2015. The state must sustainably fund Medicaid and other services that improve the health and well-being of residents as well as the state’s economy.
“The reality is that we’ve already made significant cuts to these programs in the past,” said Daniel Frey, director of government relations at AFC. “They simply cannot sustain funding decreases on the level the governor is proposing. We look forward to identifying solutions to the state budget that include adequate revenue, not just cuts.”
Medicaid cuts will impact tens of thousands in Illinois
AFC also particularly concerned with the impact that the governor’s budget will have on the state’s Medicaid program and those who rely on Medicaid to receive vital, lifesaving care and treatment, including tens of thousands of people with HIV. AFC encourages Governor Rauner and his entire administration to consider the long-term impact of such cuts, both to recipients of that care, but also on our state’s finances.
The Governor’s proposed FY 2016 budget would reduce Medicaid spending by $1.6 billion. Program cuts include reductions to hospital and nursing home programs. The governor would eliminate again adult dental and podiatry services, which were restored by state in 2015 after a two-year elimination that proved detrimental to the physical health of individuals on Medicaid.
“What’s at stake here is the safety and well-being of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans who deserve to lead healthy, full lives,” said Peller.
$400 million cut to substance abuse and mental health treatment services
The governor’s proposed budget also reduces Department of Human Services (DHS) state funding by some $400 million, cutting services such as substance abuse and mental health treatment. It appears that all state funding — $12.7 million — has been cut from supportive housing, which helps formerly homeless people with HIV and other chronic diseases and behavioral health challenges live successfully in the community.
“Governor Rauner’s budget is just a proposal,” said Frey. “It’s our job as advocates to work with our champions in the General Assembly, including members of the Black and Latino Caucuses, to restore vital services for people with HIV and other vulnerable populations. We look forward to that partnership.”
Are you having trouble paying for your HIV medication? Do you feel your insurance company’s high cost sharing amounts for HIV medications are discriminatory? Tell us; we want to hear from you!
Last week, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and AIDS Legal Council of Chicago submitted letters to three health insurance companies in Illinois – Humana, Coventry and Health Alliance – expressing serious concern regarding the coverage and cost of HIV medications under their plans offered on the health insurance Marketplace.
Analysis of plans offered by these insurance companies found that HIV medications are placed on a specialty tier, which results in medication being extremely unaffordable for individuals living with HIV. The letters urged companies to immediately amend their formularies to cover all HIV medications in cost sharing tiers, which will allow people living with HIV to access these essential medications.
Need help finding current information on the cost of HIV medications in Illinois Marketplace Plans? Check out our Illinois Formulary Assessments. Also see the cost assessment of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), for those who are HIV-negative.
While we wait for the insurance companies to respond, you can take action today! If you, or someone you know, has had difficulty paying for HIV medications due to high pricing by one of these four insurance companies, Speak Up! When individuals share their personal stories, advocacy efforts are strengthened, which results in more impactful and meaningful change. Share your story today!
Resources
- Illinois HIV medication coverage analysis
- Illinois PrEP coverage analysis
- Letters AFC and ALCC sent to Humana, Coventry and Health Alliance
In the month of February, we honor the sacrifices and accomplishments of African Americans in the U.S. through Black History Month. But this month also offers the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) an opportunity to explore the current state of African Americans in Chicago and Illinois, and how the HIV epidemic impacts this community.
AFC is a partner in a variety of programs and opportunities to learn more about the African American experience of HIV and AIDS — throughout the month and on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Feb. 7). Through awareness and educational opportunities, a three-day conference and a town hall gathering, AFC offers a platform for exploring the modern Black experience of health care, HIV and LGBT issues and tackling the disparities and inequalities that exist.
Friday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.
Press conference honoring National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day
Join state leaders and representatives from Illinois’ African-American community at a press conference at Mile Square Center.
Friday, Feb. 6, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
“I Can’t Breathe”: Racism and the state of public health in Chicago
Part of the Health Disparities and Social Justice Conference of DePaul University’s Masters in Public Health program, this daylong, free-of-charge series of talks explores the challenges faced by people of color in Chicago’s health care system. Click here to learn more.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
#BlackHealthMatters: A faith community educating about HIV/AIDS in the Black community
This afternoon experience at West Point Baptist Church will feature panelists discussing the HIV epidemic in Black communities, entertainment and lunch. Click here to learn more.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
“When we know better, we do better” town hall
Join the Chicago Department of Public Health, AFC, and the Black AIDS Institute to discuss “When we know better, we do better,” a report on the role science and treatment knowledge can play to improve outcomes in the treatment cascade and reduce new HIV infections. Click here to learn more, and click here to RSVP.
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Thursday, Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The state of AIDS in Black Chicago: From the bench to the bedside
This experience will explore the physiological effect of HIV/AIDS and its impact on Black communities across Chicago and Illinois. The conference offers the opportunity to increase scientific understanding of HIV and the way it impacts African Americans and other Black communities. Click here to learn more.
Thursday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Black lives matter: A community town hall
This conversation will take a critical look at how the Black LGBT community plays a role in the #blacklivesmatter movement. Topics include same-sex marriage, racism and transphobia in mainstream LGBT communities and health and economic disparities. Click here to learn more.
Applications for an advisory board composed of young women and transgender women of color are now being accepted to support Project Elevate, a dynamic new STI 
prevention program led by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
Project Elevate is a citywide collaboration with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Department of Public Health, Planned Parenthood, Lurie Children’s Memorial Hospital, Affinity, and a host of other community partners. This peer-led project will focus on the input of the Youth Expert Advisory Board to shape marketing materials in support of a robust HIV and STI prevention program.
The Youth Expert Advisory Board (YEAB) will be comprised of interested, active and influential members of the targeted community who are willing to utilize their expertise, knowledge, influence and contacts to benefit the programs and services of Project Elevate.
Additional questions and/or support, and completed applications should be sent to Alan D. Johnson at [email protected].
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is taking a decisive step toward deepening its valued partnerships with community organizations and advocates most crucial to the HIV/AIDS fight by filling two key roles on its staff: vice president of Policy and vice president of Prevention and Community Partnerships.
After serving AFC for 10 years — and the HIV prevention community for far longer — Cynthia Tucker was recently promoted to the organization’s vice president of Prevention and Community Partnerships role. She has been an invaluable leader for the organization’s prevention initiatives, grant-making programs, and Corrections Case Management program. Her leadership behind programs like the Bridge Project, MSM Testing Initiative and the newly created Project Elevate have changed thousands of lives and molded AFC’s reputation as an innovative leader in the HIV/AIDS movement.
“Cynthia is an excellent representative of AFC’s mission and values, and I am thrilled to see her advance into this new leadership role,” said John Peller, AFC’s president/CEO.
In her new capacity, Tucker will continue to lead AFC’s Prevention team, community-building efforts and grant-making program, and she will also create a Capacity Building Unit for the organization.
Gardenhire returns to AFC as Policy leader
AFC’s other recent vice president hire is Ramon Gardenhire, who has served as AFC’s Policy head since December. Gardenhire brings many years of experience in policymaking and lobbying — including as AFC’s Director of Government Relations from 2011 to 2013 — to face a unique set of challenges for the organization’s advocacy projects and statewide legislative initiatives. More information about Ramon’s return to AFC can be found here.
“With Ramon and Cynthia serving in these vital leadership roles, AFC is in a very strong position,” said Peller. “We can now ensure that our partner organizations have the best level of support, our advocates across Illinois have the best tools to make their voices heard and our services continue to get into the communities that need them most.”
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) applauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their announcement today eliminating the outdated lifetime blood-donation ban for gay and bisexual men, enacting instead a rule that bans men who have had sex with men within the past year from donating blood. While the removal of the lifetime ban is a critical step forward, this one-year deferral period continues to unfairly discriminate against gay and bisexual men.
“It is very encouraging to see the FDA take this step and change what has been a longstanding, but inherently discriminatory policy,” said John Peller, president/CEO of AFC.
The lifetime blood-donation ban originated during the early AIDS crisis when the disease was found mostly among communities of gay and bisexual men. Since then, important knowledge about HIV has emerged, making any ban both scientifically and medically unwarranted. While the policy change is an important step to destigmatize HIV as a “gay disease,” further steps must be taken by the FDA to reduce the discriminatory effects of the policy.
To counteract stigma and discrimination, AFC urges the FDA to implement a risk-based deferral system for all prospective donors. A comprehensive screening system that assesses every donor’s actual risk, regardless of sexual orientation, can improve the safety of the nation’s blood supply without discriminating against and stigmatizing gay and bisexual men.
“The FDA still needs to do more to end unwarranted discrimination against gay and bisexual men while safeguarding the safety of the nation’s blood supply,” says Ramon Gardenhire, vice president of Policy at AFC. “A one-year ban is still unreasonable and discriminatory against gay and bisexual men, many of whom are safe blood donors.”
AFC joins the growing national consensus on the need to improve the blood donation policies and discrimination against gay and bisexual men.
After five years of brave leadership for the city of Chicago — and, in particular, the estimated 25,000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the city — Dr. Bechara Choucair announced today that he is stepping down from his role as the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) commissioner.
Dr. Choucair has been a strong ally in the fight to prevent new HIV infections in Chicago, and his support for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and its prevention and care programs has been valued. AFC wishes Dr. Choucair well as he embarks on a new professional journey.
AFC also extends a warm welcome to Dr. Julie Morita, who was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve as the next CDPH commissioner. We look forward to working closely with Dr. Morita to expand upon Dr. Choucair’s legacy of support for Chicago’s HIV/AIDS community.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) released in late November a concept paper describing how Medicaid Health Homes might be implemented in Illinois. Health Homes are authorized under the Affordable Care Act to provide care coordination to people with two or more chronic diseases, or one chronic disease and increased vulnerability for another one.
The federal government permits states can include HIV as a Medicaid Health Home chronic condition. The goal of the Medicaid Health Home program is to provide enhanced care coordination for vulnerable individuals with complex health care needs. States receive additional federal funding for two years after implementing Health Homes.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has advocated for Illinois to adopt Health Homes for several years. AFC is pleased to see the state moving forward, and provided extensive comments on the state’s concept paper. AFC will continue to monitor development of health homes over the next several months.
This week, Ramon Gardenhire walked through the doors leading to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)’s headquarters on Jackson Blvd. It’s something he has done many times for years, but today things are different: AFC has a new president/CEO, a new office floor, many new staff members — and now, a new leader of its Policy team.
Gardenhire, who served as AFC’s director of Government Relations for three years, will now lead the organization’s policy and advocacy initiatives as its vice president of Policy.
“Scientific innovations and unprecedented opportunities with health care reform offer tremendous promise for reducing HIV infections and improving the continuum of care for millions living with HIV,” said Gardenhire. “However, if we don’t address the social determinants of health such as poverty, limited access to health care, lack disproportionate HIV testing and linkage to care, that opportunity has the potential to manifest into an empty promise for those in marginalized communities and communities of color.”
In his previous role, Gardenhire served as AFC’s state lobbyist, working in Springfield to enact sound HIV/AIDS public policy and advocate for increased services and prevention for people living with and vulnerable to HIV.
“Ramon’s greatest accomplishment during his stint at AFC was successfully co-leading the advocacy campaign to expand Medicaid in Illinois,” said John Peller, AFC’s president/CEO. “Thanks to in part to Ramon’s leadership, over 400,000 very low-income, vulnerable people — including thousands with HIV — have access to more comprehensive health care in Illinois through Medicaid.”
Peller previously held the role of vice president of Policy and worked closely with Gardenhire, who left in late 2013 to serve as deputy policy director for SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana.
Before coming to AFC, Ramon worked at the Federation for Community Schools, Young Democrats of America, National Democratic Committee, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Physician Assistants, where he worked on state level political and legislative initiatives. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University and a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.
“We have many policy challenges ahead,” said Peller. “I’m confident that Ramon is the right person at the right time to lead AFC’s advocacy and policy efforts forward. We have an unprecedented opportunity to harness the power of HIV medications to treat people with HIV and prevent new HIV cases.”
More than 1,100 sweet and savory enthusiasts indulged in a night of tasty creations at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s (AFC) 13th annual World of Chocolate gala, Dec. 4 at Union Station. The one-of-a-kind celebration featured 22 of Chicagoland’s top chocolatiers, chefs and caterers. Held annually in commemoration of World AIDS Day, this year’s event raised approximately $134,000 in support of AFC and their vision for an AIDS-free generation.
Guests at this year’s event enjoyed a plethora of chocolate treats, cocktails and other delicious delicacies – from sweet truffles and white chocolate ganache to more savory dishes like duck breast with a dark chocolate pomegranate-acai drizzle.
An expert panel of judges, including local celebrities and renowned Chicago area chefs, bestowed vendors with awards in five categories:
- Best Sweet Award for tastiest sweet treat went to Uptown Brownie;
- Best Savory Award for tastiest savory treat went to Mercat a la planxa;
- Best Libation Award for tastiest drink concoction went to Intercontinental Hotel;
- Best Business Class, Small Business Award for the small business with the tastiest treat went to Life’s Sweeter Side;
- Best Business Class, Large Business Award for the large business with tastiest treat went to The Peninsula Chicago;
- People’s Choice Award for guests’ overall favorite chocolatier went to ZED451.
The judges’ panel included: A Cook’s Canvas food writer Veronica LePinske; Alliance Bakery owner and executive pastry chef Peter Rios; Barry Callebaut chef Mark Seaman; Café des Architectes executive pastry chef Leigh Omilinksy; Chicago Chocolate Tours founder Valerie Beck; Just Like U Like It Catering founder Andrea Alexander; La Parisianne du Chocolat owner Robyn Rice-Foster; Nico Osteria partner Kimberly Galban; Nico Osteria pastry chef Amanda Rockman; and WLS (ABC)’s franklyHANK, Hank Manheim.
Prizes were raffled off to guests throughout the evening including luxury vacations to New York and Los Angeles, and gift certificates to 12 of Chicago’s most alluring restaurants.
Funds raised through World of Chocolate will support AFC’s policy and public education programs.
“It was a joyful night with an important purpose — to raise significant funds for the cause and remind us all that HIV is still an important issue,” said John Peller, AFC’s president/CEO.
Generous vendors participating in World of Chocolate included: Argo Tea, Baron Chocolatier Chocolate, Chocolat Uzma Sharif, Das Foods LLC, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, InterContinental Chicago, Kendall College School of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Life’s Sweeter Sides, mEAT on Chestnut, Mercat a la Planxa, The Peninsula Chicago, Prasino LaGrange, RL Restaurant, Sophie’s at Saks Fifth Avenue, Starbucks, Uptown Brownie, Vanille Patisserie, Walgreens, Wao Bao-Hot Asian Buns and ZED451.
This year’s World of Chocolate sponsors and media partners included: A&U Magazine; Barry Callebaut; Bell Litho Printing; Best Gay Chicago; Blommer Chocolate Company; BMO Harris Bank; BOI Magazine; Chicago Magazine; ChicagoPride.com; CRAM Fashion; Daniel Paterno, hairstylist; First Light Group LLC; Food for Thought Catering; Gay Chic Magazine; Gilead; GRAB Magazine; Harmony, A WellCare Company; John Gress; Kehoe Designs; Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant; Lulu’s on the Avenue; Mel Wilson Makeup; McDonald’s; Michigan Avenue Magazine; Paterno Group; PepsiCo; Richard’s Fabulous Finds; Stolichnaya Vodka; Walgreens; Wilde Bar & Restaurant, Windy City Media Group; and Winebow.