CHICAGO – The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The AIDS Institute are pleased to report that through their joint advocacy, national health insurance provider Ambetter Health has agreed to expand the list of medications it covers to include life-saving daily treatments for people living with HIV. This change is effective immediately and benefits Ambetter Qualified Health Plan (QHP) enrollees...
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by Eryn MacNeil
For many women affected by HIV, it’s easy to feel alone and unsupported. There isn’t always a community welcoming you with open arms — or at least it can feel that way sometimes.
Poppy Morgan took matters into her own hands and created her own community. Poppy, 40, is a leader in the nonprofit sector in the western suburbs of Chicago (due...
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by Mirhanda Alewine
Hilda Richards, Ed.D., RN, FAAN, an AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) Board member for 15 years, discusses her experience on the Board and what she hopes for the future of AFC.
When Dr. Hilda Richards moved to Chicago in 2000 at the age of 64, she arrived with a lifetime's worth of credentials and accomplishments — including several “firsts”...
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by Dan Frey, Director of Government Relations
Good afternoon, everyone! This week in Springfield was the last of the House’s session days before the March 15 primary and an elongated spring break. While there was some movement surrounding an appropriations bill for human services and higher education, ultimately it appears that we are no closer to a resolution to our current...
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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) applauds Get Covered Illinois and the Illinois Department of Insurance for reducing Illinois’ uninsured rate from 17.8% to 10.6% among 18-64 year olds between 2013 and 2015. This feat is one of the largest uninsured percentage drops in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medicaid is now the largest payer of HIV care...
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For decades, Walgreens has supported the AIDS Foundation of Chicago in its quest to make HIV infections rare and support people living with HIV and related chronic diseases.
Walgreens' Senior Director of Virology Glen Pietrandoni shares his story of serving the HIV community for 30 years. He also explains how Walgreens is uniquely positioned to support people...
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by Mirhanda Alewine
John Pizaña, the Promotor of the Salud y Orgullo Mexicano (SOM) campaign, uses his unique position to encourage and mentor other Mexican men living with HIV.
"We knew that HIV was something that was going to continue to grow."
In September 2014, John Pizaña accepted the position of Promotor of Salud y Orgullo...
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by Elijah McKinnon
#PrEP4Love is LIVE! The citywide, sex-positive media campaign was designed to increase awareness of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily HIV prevention pill for HIV-negative people. Below are 5 ways you can get involved with the campaign and continue to help us #SpreadTingle #TransmitLove #CatchDesire and #ContractHeat.
Like Project RSP on Facebook and...
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AFC urges passage of a positive budget to ensure essential services continue
On Wednesday, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner once again presented the Illinois General Assembly with a budget that fails to protect the most vulnerable people in the state. Eight months into the fiscal year and without a budget in place that funds essential services, Governor Rauner proposed a budget for...
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Given Illinois' state budget woes, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) seeks to protect and preserve vital HIV/AIDS prevention, education, housing and treatment services, and ensure that providers are fully paid for services rendered under contract with the state during the budget impasse.
Furthermore, AFC aims to ensure adequate funding for critical services including mental...
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