USPSTF Recommends Routine HIV Screening 

Last week, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a draft recommendation in support of routine HIV testing for all adolescents and adults ages 15 through 65. The recommendation that routine HIV screening now be given an "A" grade, a change from its current "C" grade, has important implications under the Affordable Care Act, which bases reimbursement for preventive services by private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid on USPSTF grades. To learn more about the draft recommendations and how you can send comments to the Task Force, click here. The deadline for submitting comments is December 17, 2012.

CDC Releases Vital Signs Report on HIV Among Youth   

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the CDC released a new edition of Vital Signs, which includes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Vital Signs: HIV Infection, Testing, and Risk Behaviors Among Youths -- United States. The data show that young people between the ages of 13 and 24 represent about a quarter of all new HIV infections, the majority of youth living with HIV are unaware they are infected, and young gay and bisexual men and African Americans are the most affected. The report calls for age-appropriate HIV prevention education through parents, schools, and community and web-based programs, as well as the implementation of effective interventions and testing for youth at risk. It also underscores the importance of treatment and care for youth who have HIV. Click here to access the new Vital Signs edition.

MTV Special Profiles Young People with HIV 
MTV will present a special, "I'm Positive," on December 1 at 7:00 PM EDT that profiles three young people who are HIV-infected. Presented under the "GYT: Get Yourself Tested" campaign, which is part of MTV's 15-year public information partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, "I'm Positive" dispels common myths and stereotypes associated with HIV. Following the special, there will be an after-show hosted by Dr. Drew, which will air exclusively on MTV.com. In the special, Dr. Drew will sit down with the three young people in front of a small studio audience to discuss their experiences living with HIV and dive deeper into how young people can protect themselves. For more on "I'm Positive," as well as information about HIV/AIDS and how to find local testing services, click here. 

CDC Releases School Health Index 2012
The CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health recently released an updated School Health Index (SHI). First released in 2000, the SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. SHI 2012 includes new features, such as an expanded focus that adds sexual health to the SHI health topics addressed, including policies and practices that schools can follow to help prevent HIV, STDs, and teen pregnancies. Click here to access the SHI.

New Free CME Web-based Course for Physicians and Other Clinicians 
The UT Southwestern Medical Center is offering a new web-based course for clinicians, "The Prevention Benefit of ART for HIV-infected Patients." This course is designed for clinicians who treat people living with HIV or who are otherwise concerned about HIV prevention. The course takes about an hour to complete and physicians can receive 1.25 units of free CME. To learn more and access the course, click here.  

Webinar: CDC's Interim Guidance on the Use of PrEP in Heterosexually Active Adults  

The CDC's Elimination of Mother-to-Child Stakeholders Group, in collaboration with the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, is offering a free webinar on the implications for clinical practice of the CDC's Interim Guidance on the Use of PrEP in Heterosexually Active Adults. The webinar will feature Dawn Smith, MD, Biomedical Intervention Implementation Officer, CDC and Deborah Cohan, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco. The webinar will be held on December 12 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT. To join the webinar, click here (you do not need to pre-register). For audio, dial 1-888-205-5513. The participant code is 654543#.