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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
November 8, 2012
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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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Save the Date & Upcoming D.A.P. Events
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Tuesday, November 13, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Positive Life Series
 Due to the elections on November 6, 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 (pictured), 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 three hours, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, to allow for all the presentations and a panel discussion. 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? Send an email to positivelifeseries@gmail.com. Because of high expected attendance, we ask that you please RSVP via email for this program to guarantee that we have enough food for everyone. Plan to attend!
The December 4 program will be on Accessing HIV Benefits: addressing the county's new health programs for HIV care, Medicare Part D prescription coverage, and changes coming with the Affordable Care Act. (jl)Back to top
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Tuesday, November 16, 6:00 PM
Dancing with the Desert Stars
For additional information, click here. (jl) (sb) (rv)
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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, November 16th PRESENTATION LUNCHEON! Noon - 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: RESISTANCE AND ADHERENCE
Dr. Owen, HIV Specialist, will be here talking about resistance and adherence to medications. Lunch starts at 11:45 AM. Open to registered D.A.P. clients only. ASL Interpretation upon request. Contact Ray at least 48 hours in advance. Sponsored by ViiV Healthcare. RSVP to Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118 ext. 295, or rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org .
Improve your Quality of life through education
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Third Friday of Every Month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Community Center Presents: HAIRCUTS BY MITCH!
 The D.A.P. Community Center is pleased to announce free HAIRCUTS FOR CLIENTS, the third Friday of each month from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Sign up outside the Walgreens room in the Community Center. Six slots are available--first come, first served. NO appointments or reservations taken by phone ahead of time. Please show up with clean hair.
Look your best with a clip 'n snip!
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Thursday, November 15, 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA
 How Do You Know (2010) Director: James L. Brooks. Actors: Reese Witherspoon: Lisa · Paul Rudd: George · Owen Wilson: Matty · Jack Nicholson: Charles · Kathryn Hahn: Annie ·
Get out for a good movie!.
(please remember, doors don't open until 1:00 PM!)
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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
- Afternoon tea, every Wednesday, 3:00 PM
Follow this link to see recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.
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Desert AIDS Project Providers Forum: Your questions answered
On October 26, Desert AIDS Project held a "Providers Forum" so that clients could get to know some of the new personnel in the medical and dental clinics, by asking questions of a panel of providers.
Dr. Homayoon Khanlou (pictured), D.A.P.'s new Medical Director, who also carries a patient caseload of his own, answered many of the questions. Other providers on the staff, also responding to questions, included Matt Moran, NP; Dr. Tom Buehner; and Dr. Margaret Soh, DDS. The panel discussion was moderated by Bill Quinn, D.A.P.'s new Chief Program Officer, who has worked in the HIV/AIDS field since 1988. See the article below for a short profile on Bill.
Here are the first three questions that were posed by interested clients:
If I have a friend who is a patient of D.A.P. for whom I am concerned about cognitive and emotional issues which the patient may not be properly addressing with the doctor, what is the mechanism for me to inform the providers of my concern?
Answer: You may want to ask your friend if you could attend one of their upcoming medical appointments and whether they would consent to your coming into the exam room during the visit. Our staff would have the patient sign a form allowing you to participate to the extent they permitted. As you may guess if the patient does not permit your admission or advocacy we would respect their privacy but also talk to the patient about why you might have concerns related to the patient's general health.
I have had HIV/HCV for many years and recently had medications with debilitating side-effects. When medications are changed and impact other medications, who should help an HIV Doctor or Primary Care Doctor?
Answer: There are many triggers that may require a person to have changes in medications. If you experience side-effects from your medications, let your assigned provider at D.A.P. know. Our providers all have specialty training in HIV care, some serve as your primary some as a specialty consult. If you have side effects from any medication, you should contact the provider who prescribed the current medication and let them know all the medications that you are currently taking.
As a patient of D.A.P. clinic, do we have a specialist or do we need to seek an outside HIV specialist?
Answer: D.A.P. providers all have specific and extensive training in the care and treatment of HIV. To more effectively take care of you in a one-stop-shop environment, your assigned provider will manage both your primary care and management of HIV. In some cases, the insurance you have dictates whether you need to have pre-authorizations to see the provider at D.A.P. or when you may have to see certain types of specialists at other locations in their network. These are conditions of the specific insurances. We attempt to be credentialed and participating as providers in the most common insurance plans that many of our patients have to reduce this burden on the patients and to better coordinate care. (jl)
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Desert AIDS Project welcomes Bill Quinn, CPO
Desert AIDS Project is pleased to announce the addition of Bill Quinn as Chief Program Officer. He is primarily responsible for oversight of all client service programs at the agency. He comes to the desert via West Palm Beach, FL. where he was Director of Health Services for FoundCare Health Center, part of the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County and was instrumental in getting the health center classified as the first FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) in the state of Florida. FQHCs are community-based organizations that provide comprehensive primary care and preventive care, including health, oral, and mental health/ substance abuse services to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance status and are a critical component of the health care safety net. He has been working in HIV services since 1988 when he was a social worker in Santa Clara County and was involved in a pilot program for health clinics that became the model for future early intervention clinics. His primary goal at Desert AIDS Project is to "develop this site as a center of excellence; to be on the cutting edge of treatments and social services and meet patients needs through ongoing communication with patients". With his years of ASO experience and his commitment to client service he will be a valuable addition to Desert AIDS Project. (jl)
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Don't skip your meds just because you had a drink
 In a new study, about half of HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy skipped their medications whenever they were drinking alcohol, an ill-advised behavior that could lead to higher viral loads, researchers say. Lapses in pill-taking could be due to forgetfulness while under the influence, but a widespread - and erroneous - belief that mixing alcohol and HIV drugs can be toxic appears to play a role, researchers found. Read more here. (jl)
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Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7th
 If you are on Medicare you should know that it's that time of year again! Medicare Open Enrollment started on October 15th and will continue through December 7, 2012. During this time, people receiving Medicare should review their health and prescription drug coverage to make sure it still fits their needs. Read the Ask Medicare fact sheet or visit Medicare.gov to compare coverage options and learn about recent changes to your plan's premiums, deductibles or benefits. You only need to make revisions to your plan if you are unhappy with your current coverage. If you like your current coverage, in most cases, it will automatically renew for the new year. (jl)
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Huge differences in HIV mortality rates according to race, social, and economic status
New research has revealed enormous differences in HIV mortality rates between patients according to their race and social and economic status. The study showed that mortality rates are especially high among black patients of low social and economic status. Most strikingly, HIV is the ninth most important cause of death among black people, but ranks only 24th for white people. Read more here. (jl)
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Traditional risk factors predict neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV
 A new study provides some reassurance about the factors associated with cognitive impairment in people with HIV. This loss of memory, poor concentration and declining mental ability - is most likely to be happening for the same reasons as in the wider population, and the risk of impairment does not appear to be associated with HIV infection, a French cohort study has found. Older age, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular disease and a history of brain injury were strongly associated with neurocognitive impairment, which was detected in 59% of a cohort of French people with HIV. Read more. (jl)
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Election Results: Good news for Health Care, women, and LGBT issues
 Of course the big news story of the election of 2012 is the re-election of President Barack Obama thereby guaranteeing that the Affordable Care Act will remain the law of the land. You probably also know that, although they are still counting votes, Dr. Raul Ruiz appears to have upset incumbent Mary Bono Mack here in the 36th Congressional District. However there were other interesting developments you may not have yet heard about. Wisconsin voters elected Tammy Baldwin making her the first openly gay member of the Senate and our neighbors in Redlands elected Mark Takano as the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress, replacing Jerry Lewis. Baldwin's win also means that one in five U.S. Senators will be women next term. Additionally, Tuesday's election brought a clean sweep of wins for gays and lesbians across the country everywhere that LGBT issues were on the ballot. For the first time in history, after losses in over 30 other states, voters in Maine, Maryland, and Washington have approved marriage equality, and in Minnesota they rejected a state constitutional ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples!
Condoms in porn: An interesting development in the HIV/AIDS arena is the passage of the "Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act'," or Measure B in Los Angeles County. While supporters assert that the new law will protect the health of actors by reducing the spread of HIV, opponents say this will just cause the industry to move out of LA County, taking jobs with it. The film industry is considering filing a lawsuit asserting 1st amendment violations. The end result remains to be seen. If you would like to see other election results politico.com has an interactive map that can give you election results for contests anywhere in the country. (jl)
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POZ Life weekend seminar comes to Palm Springs, November 17 - 18!
The POZ Life FREE weekend seminar is a place where compassion, education, community and love is offered unconditionally. It's a place where HIV-positive men, women, youths and family members can be themselves, feel comforted and supported in their effort to learn how to either live a long healthy productive POZitive lifestyle, or help someone they know and love overcome the fears associated with being HIV-positive. November's POZ Seminar brings Palm Springs a great line up of amazing presenters and topic's including: Drug Treatment Options, Disclosure, Sex and Intimacy, Art Therapy, "L.I.F.E.", Adherence, Complementary Therapy, Meditation for Wellness, Yoga, Communication Workshop, Support Groups, Experiential Exercises and much more! Pre-Registration is REQUIRED!! Please log onto www.TheLifeGroupLA.org for our online reservation form and we will contact you to complete your registration. Or call Sunnie Rose at 888.208.8081. (jl)
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Want to participate in D.A.P. client issues?
 Remember that the Client Advocacy Committee (C.A.C.) meets on the second Tuesday of every month and meetings are open to any D.A.P. client. The C.A.C. acts as liaison between D.A.P. and clients' interests and needs, giving them a voice in planning and provision of programs and services. For more information, email clientcom@desertaidsproject.org; or, to add your input on an issue, fill out the comment form on the D.A.P. website. (sb)
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"Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over. And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead."
- President Barack Obama in his victory speech
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Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information
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Desert AIDS Project holiday closings for remainder of 2012 and 2013
 2012
November 22-23 - Thanksgiving
December 24-25 - Christmas
2013
January 1 - New Year's Day
January 21 - MLK Jr. Day
February 18 - Presidents' Day
April 1 - Cesar Chavez Day
May 27 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 2 - Labor Day
October 14 - Columbus Day
November 11 - Veteran's Day
November 28-29 - Thanksgiving
December 25 - Christmas Day
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Contact information for D.A.P.
 The Desert AIDS Project local phone number is 760.323.2118. The toll-free phone number is 866.331.3344 and the website can be found at desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
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Help with Medicare
The State Health Insurance  Assistance Program (SHIP) offers 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) (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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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)
*Note: MISP has changed its scheduling policy and now recommends that applicants call for their appointments no sooner than four weeks before their ADAP expiration date. (Our previous recommendation of six to eight weeks is no longer valid.)
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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Riverside County Healthcare System (RCHC)
 If you are a member of RCHC, you know that D.A.P. recently negotiated a contract with it to become an in-network provider for medical care. Since then, D.A.P. Medical Case Managers have worked to reduce barriers transitioning to this health plan, in switching your provider assignment to D.A.P.'s HIV Health Center and linking you to RCHC benefits.
If you have questions or difficulties in linking to care at D.A.P. through RCHC, contact your Medical Case Manager, who may advise you on navigating the system. Be aware, however, that D.A.P. has no jurisdiction over RCHC operations and that you may need to deal with RCHC directly. If you continue to face barriers or have concerns about RCHC's service provisions, call the following numbers to file a grievance: 888-860-1303 or 1-888-860-1304 (TTY/TDD). You can also mail the grievance to:
Riverside County HealthCare
PO Box 8957
Moreno Valley CA 92555-8957
RCHC Website: http://riversidecountyhealthcare.org
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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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