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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
September 27, 2012
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 Today is National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day |
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Editorial Staff
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David Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer
Barry Dayton
Director of Marketing and Communications
Alexis Ortega
Interactive Marketing
Specialist
Rick Vila
Volunteer Co-editor
John Lewis
Volunteer Co-editor
Steve Bolerjack
Volunteer Co-editor
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Tuesday, October 2, 6:00 - 8:00 PM - Positive Life Series
 Positive Life series continues on Tuesday, October 2 with Chicago physician Daniel Berger, M.D, speaking about treatments for HIV lipodystrophy. As always, a light supper is served at 6:00 PM and the program begins at 6:30 PM. The location is the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center (corner of Tachevah and Via Miraleste in Palm Springs) and the event, sponsored by Jewish Family Service of the Desert, is always free. ASL translation is provided. Questions? Email positivelifeseries@gmail.com or call 760.566.6POZ (6769). However, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RSVP!
Due to the elections on Nov 6 (be sure to VOTE!) the November Positive Life program will be delayed one week to Tuesday, November 13. This will be a special town hall forum on the HIV cure--featuring "Berlin Patient" Timothy Brown who is the only person who has been cured of HIV to date. Timothy will share his amazing story, followed by three leading HIV cure researchers talking about their work and upcoming clinical trials here in Southern California. This special program will be 3 hours, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, to allow for all the presentations and a panel discussion. Plan to attend! (jl)(rv) Back to top
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Wednesday, October 17, 9:00 AM - Noon -
Sunline Transit at D.A.P. to offer Disabled/Medicare half-fare I.D. Card
 Personnel from Sunline Transit, which operates bus service throughout our desert cities, will be at D.A.P. on Wednesday, October 17, from 9:00 AM to Noon to accept applications from clients for half-price fare cards. To qualify, clients must present a government-issued identification card, proof of residence (such as a utility bill, driver's license with current address, lease agreement or property tax statement) and one of the following:
- Medicare card
- Sunline ADA certification card
- SSI award letter
- SSDI award letter
- Veteran's Admininstration award letter for 50% disability
- Physician's verification of disability form (which must be completed and signed by your doctor)
If you qualify, Sunline will mail an identification card to you. Then, you will provide a copy of the card to D.A.P. and if you meet eligibility requirements of 200% FPL or less, D.A.P. will provide you with a 31-day, half-fare pass each month. Click here for more information and for application forms from Sunline's website. Then come to D.A.P. on October 17 to start saving money! (sb)
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Friday, October 26, 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Meet D.A.P.'s new Medical Director, Dr. Homayoon Khanlou
 Desert AIDS Project and the Client Advocacy Committee invites all clients to join in a dialogue with its medical providers at its Palm Springs campus at 1695 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. While attendees enjoy lunch, Dr. Homayoon Khanlou, D.A.P.'s Medical Director, and others on his medical staff will speak briefly about their experience and expertise in treating HIV and AIDS. As they listen, clients will be able to anonymously write any questions or concerns they have on cards, creating discussion between clients and the panel of medical providers. Dr. Khanlou recently joined Desert AIDS Project as its new Medical Director, responsible for providing primary and HIV-specialty client care through the organization's various clinics. Dr. Khanlou comes to D.A.P. from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in Los Angeles where he had been employed since 1999, most recently as Medical Director and Principal Investigator. (rv)(jl)
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Watch DAPCAN for more on these upcoming events..
Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Les Dames Du Soleil - LAST DANCE: World Farewell Tour
Click here for more information. (jl)
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Sunday, November 4, 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
25th Anniversary of Palm Springs AIDS Walk
See below for more information or click here. (jl)
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Friday, November 16, 6:00 PM
Dancing with the Desert Stars returns!
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D.A.P. Community Center Events
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The D.A.P. Client Community Center hosts regular activities and events every week (listed below). Community Center special events and other activities can be found on the main D.A.P. website. Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events.
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 Friday, October 5, Noon to 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents
Diabetes and HIV, a ViiV Healthcare Luncheon
Speaker Gordon Sanford, HIV Specialist, will talk about Diabetes and HIV. Lunch starts at 11:45 AM. Please call Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118, ext 295, or email rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org. Registered D.A.P. clients only. ASL interpretation available upon request. E-mail Ray Robertson 72 hours in advance if ASL interpreter is needed. (rv)(jl)
Improve your quality of life through education.
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Tuesday, October 9th, EARLY DINNER! 2:30 - 3:30 PM
Community Center Presents:  THE HISTORY OF HIV AND HIV TRIVIA GAME
Speaker will be: Jack Degman, Patient Community Affairs Manager, who has worked in HIV treatment education for over 15 years. DINNER starts at 2:15 PM Sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. RSVP to Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118 ext, 295 or by email at rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
Improve your Quality of life through education
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Every Thursday, 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA  Thursday, October 4th - Pride & Prejudice (2005)
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Ongoing Client Community Center activities include:
- Support groups
- Hepatitis C therapy education
- Diabetes education
- Stitch in Time (needlecraft) - Third Wednesday of each month
- Community Center Computer Lab
- Lending Library
- Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM
Follow this link to see recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.
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Stitch in Time has moved!
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Join us for afternoon tea at Desert AIDS Project
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Want your voice heard?
The Client Advocacy Committee (C.A.C.) is a dedicated group of clients who have volunteered to act as a liaison between clients and Desert AIDS Project. C.A.C. is here to provide the  clients' perspective so that clients have a voice in the planning and provision of programs and services. The Committee reviews ongoing programs and services and provides input to the Agency based upon client feedback. This is done by reviewing client questions, comments, and suggestions, and addressing them with the agency. For example, the medical center waiting room came as a direct result of a client suggestion to the Committee. The C.A.C. also strives to educate and increase awareness of services offered to clients through D.A.P. The meet the medical providers luncheon mentioned above is presented in partnership between the C.A.C. and D.A.P. You can contact the C.A.C. by coming to any of our meetings held the second Tuesday of each month at D.A.P., clients are always welcome to attend. Or you can e-mail us at: clientcom@desertaidsproject.org; or fill out the comment on the DAP website. (rv)(jl)
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Register now to join Palm Springs AIDS Walk and Palm Springs Pride in marching together!
 The Palm Springs AIDS Walk has become one of the most important annual events for D.A.P. over the last 25 years. Our supporters have continued to "show the love" by ever-increasing participation in the Walk, raising much-needed funds for D.A.P. client services. In its first quarter-century, the AIDS Walk has netted nearly $6.25 million through individual walkers who secure donation pledges from friends and family, as well as through significant sponsorships from community partnerships. This year we'll make history as we walk together with Greater Palm Springs Pride, honoring the AIDS Walk legacy and all of our community supporters. The AIDS Walk is also honored to receive the inaugural 2012 Spirit of Stonewall Advocate of the Year Award from the Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade. Register for AIDS Walk here and come out to walk with us! (jl)
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Sequestration would cut $538 million from domestic HIV/AIDS programs
 You may remember hearing the term "sequestration" in relation to news stories about the debt ceiling debate last summer. Sequestration refers to the automatic, across-the-board, budget cuts that will take place in January 2013, unless Congress and the President come to an agreement on another option in the next couple of months. In a letter sent to Congressional leaders, The AIDS Institute outlined $538 million in automatic spending cuts that would occur due to sequestration to four federal programs that people with HIV/AIDS depend upon for their lifesaving care and treatment, or which work to prevent future HIV infections. Read here for more information. (jl)
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New Kaiser brief examines implications of ACA for people with HIV
 A new brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation explores key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for people with HIV, and the opportunities and challenges for using the law to improve HIV care, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the law. Medicaid is the largest payer of HIV care in the United States, but the Court's ruling limits the ability to enforce the ACA's planned Medicaid expansion and has generated uncertainty over whether all states will decide to expand their programs. This opens the possibility that people with HIV in some states may find themselves unable to qualify for Medicaid, but with incomes too low to qualify for subsidies to buy insurance through an exchange. While questions remain about the ultimate impact of this decision, the law is expected to provide important new pathways to coverage for people with HIV when full implementation begins in 2014. You can read the complete brief here. (jl)
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Truvada effective even when patients miss a dose
 Truvada, the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for HIV prevention, is effective in blocking the virus even if people do not adhere to their daily regimen perfectly, a new study indicates. The researchers say their findings build on a 2010 clinical study, called the iPrEx study, which found Truvada could prevent new infections in people at high risk for HIV. "After the initial iPrEx study, there was concern that the protective effect of Truvada was fragile, and that individuals taking the drug would need to adhere perfectly to daily regimen for it to work," study co-leader Dr. Robert Grant, an investigator at Gladstone Institutes and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said in an institute news release. "This new study suggests that Truvada can help block the virus even if the person on a daily regimen doesn't always adhere perfectly." You can read more here. (jl)
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Study shows soda affects genes that control for weight gain
 New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have had it right all along... A huge, decades-long study involving more than 33,000 Americans has yielded the first clear proof that drinking sugary beverages interacts with genes that affect weight, amplifying a person's risk for obesity beyond what it would be from heredity alone.This means the drinks may be especially harmful to people with genes that predispose them to weight gain - most people have at least some of these genes. Read more here. (jl)
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September 27 is National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
 The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) founded National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD) in 2008 to help gay men remember how much we have accomplished together in the fight against HIV/AIDS, remember the quarter-million lovers and brothers we have lost, and renew our commitment to ending the epidemic. NGMHAAD calls on gay men across the United States to remember that the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic may be in sight, but the epidemic isn't over, and men who have sex with men are still at high risk. The number of gay men already living with HIV in this country may be as high as 1 in every 8, so we have to protect ourselves. Play safe! NGMHAAD calls on gay men to lead the movement to end the epidemic. We know now how to do it:
- Routine HIV testing for all, every 3 to 6 months for gay men and others in high-risk groups.
- Immediate access to HIV treatment and support services for everyone who tests positive.
- An end to the HIV stigma and homophobia that keep too many of us from even getting tested. Because it's much harder for us to pass our virus on to others when we are getting effective treatment.
NGMHAAD calls on gay men to be proud. -- BECAUSE WE MATTER! (jl)
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Positive Pedalers - Eliminating stigma through positive public example.
Positive Pedalers is a group of people, living with HIV/AIDS, committed to building a supportive and inclusive community for others and themselves through participation in bicycle-related activities. Their mission is simple: Eliminating stigma through positive public example. The Positive Pedalers organization exists as a support group for HIV positive people while also maintaining awareness about HIV/AIDS causes and keeping fit at the same time. The main goals of "Poz Peds" are expanding awareness and encouraging support to find a cure. Riding together as a group, with their identifying flags streaming in the wind, Poz Peds are empowering advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization began in 1995, after Jonathon Pon participated in the first California AIDS Ride. Pon felt that there was a need to recognize and support HIV-positive riders. Many Positive Pedalers participate in the annual AIDS/LifeCyle riding event, while also supporting HIV positive cyclists in other cities and even a few internationally. Stefen Burchard heads the Palms Springs Positive Pedalers chapter. He urges both HIV positive people and their supporters to get involved with the local chapter. Burchard's goal is to have enough people to hold monthly rides/socials while also preparing for community events like the Tour de Palm Springs as well as the main AIDS/LifeCycle ride. Any questions or comments regarding Positive Pedalers can be sent to Stefan Burchard at srburchard@gmail.com. A Facebook page for the chapter can also be found here. The organization can also be reached through its website at www.pospeds.org. (jl)
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Take a stand against bullying - "Go purple" on October 19!
 October 19 is Spirit Day! Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy -- participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 19th as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are. Click here to sign the pledge to "go purple" and for additional information. (rv)
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Registering and voting is easier than ever before...and D.A.P. is here for anyone who needs help
 As your editor rather strongly notes below, voting this year is more urgent than ever before. And it's also much easier. If you're not registered, here's what you need to know: the deadline for voter registration is Monday, October 22 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 6. Plenty of time! You can register online and request a ballot to vote by mail. It's all quite simple. Click here for the official State of California Elections site that will provide you with all the information you'll need. Or click here for the Riverside County Registrar of Voters Q&A site. And if health or mobility problems may threaten your ability to vote, contact us here at DAPCAN@desertaidsproject.org and we'll make sure you get the assistance you need! (sb) Back to top
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Jerome Horwitz, AZT creator, dies at 93
 Jerome P. Horwitz, a scientific researcher who created AZT, the first successful drug treatment for people with AIDS, died on Sept. 6. He was 93. He had spent more than a decade developing AZT, a drug he hoped would work against cancer, but the compound failed to help the lab mice he tested it on, so in 1970 he "dumped it on the junk pile," wrote up his disappointing findings and moved on. He didn't bother applying for a patent. As a result, Dr. Horwitz never achieved much fame and did not earn a penny for making the AZT compound. The riches - billions of dollars eventually - went to the drug company that tested it, patented it and, in 1986, won federal approval for it as the first treatment proven to prolong AIDS patients' lives. In addition to AZT, Horwitz developed two other drugs that have remained in the anti-AIDS/HIV arsenal, including dideoxycytidine, the second drug approved for AIDS patients, and stauvudine. (jl)
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"The pleasure we derive from doing favors is partly in the feeling it gives us that we are not altogether worthless. It is a pleasant surprise to ourselves." - Eric Hoffer
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Help with Medicare
Whether you're new to Medicare or an existing beneficiary, you may need help navigating the system. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a national program offering one-on-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. This includes information about original Medicare, Medicare Health Plans, Medicare  Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Supplemental policies and Long Term Care Insurance. The California Department of Aging (CDA) is responsible for statewide administration of SHIP, which is delivered through the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). HICAP services can be accessed via a toll-free line at 800.434.0222. The local HICAP office is located in Riverside and the phone number is 951.241.8723. Follow this link for more information. (jl)
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Keep all those pills straight with a good meds reference chart
  Check out and bookmark this handy chart from Positively Aware, which lists all currently approved antiviral medications, dosages, restrictions information and even photos of the pill just in case you really get confused! It's updated regularly and is a good resource and checklist before you talk to your doctor about meds. (sb)
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More help paying for prescription medications
 Among the resources available to HIV-positive people to help pay for prescription medications is NeedyMeds. The mission of NeedyMeds is to make information about assistance programs available to low-income patients and their advocates at no cost. Go to www.needymeds.org, look up the medications you need and you'll be directed to the patient assistance program website for that manufacturer. The site also offers a free drug discount card that is accepted at more than 62,000 pharmacies. If you are having trouble paying for your medications this site is worth a look! (jl) (sb)
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D.A.P. website and toll-free phone
 The Desert AIDS Project toll-free phone number is always available at 866.331.3344, as is the website at www.desertaidsproject.org. (jl) "I must talk to someone
at D.A.P. right away!"
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DAPCAN archives always available online
 Need another look at something you read in DAPCAN? You can find past issues online by clicking this link. As always, you can also read the most current edition of DAPCAN on the D.A.P. website at www.desertaidsproject.org/newsletter. And we've recently updated these links to ensure that the very latest issues of DAPCAN are always available. (jl) |
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Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
For those who qualify, medical care and help paying for your medications are available through the MISP and ADAP programs. You can find out if you qualify by scheduling an appointment by calling the numbers below. You can schedule your MISP and ADAP appointments together for Moreno Valley office ONLY. If you qualify for ADAP only, there is a local ADAP office right across the driveway, south of Desert AIDS Project, at the Palm Springs Family Care Center. Specify the Palm Springs office when you call to make your appointment. Here are the numbers:
877.501.5085 - toll free
951.486.5375 - English
951.486.5400 - Spanish
951.486.4635 - fax
NOTICE: Faxed MISP applications can get lost in the process. Most persons who have faxed their application have had to re-apply later. It's best to apply in person in Moreno Valley, and get a "receipt of application", and use that as proof that you applied to avoid any uninterrupted services with your DAP medical doctor visits. (rv) (jl)
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ADAP may pay Medicare Part D premium
ADAP-eligible clients who have to purchase Part D prescription drug coverage may qualify to have their Part D premium paid by the State of California. Follow this link to the Part D Premium Payment Program Application. You can also call the State of California at 916.449.5900 for more information. (jl)
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Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County
2-1-1 is a toll-free service for residents looking for information about essential human services such as affordable housing, food pantries, help for an aging parent, free or low cost health services, addiction prevention programs, employment, support groups, volunteer opportunities, and 1,700 additional services! (jl)
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To contact state and federal officials click on name:
President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
State Senator Juan Vargas
Assembly member Brian Nestande
Assembly member Manual Perez
Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN) presents published material, reprinted with permission, and neither endorses or opposes any material. All information contained in this newsletter, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. Always discuss treatment options with a physician who specializes in treating HIV. Publication of the name or likeness of any individual in articles in this newsletter is not to be construed as any indication of the HIV status of such individual. If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter, please notify us by using the email address below:
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Additional Contacts/Social Networking
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