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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
November 29, 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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Saturday, December 1
World AIDS Day
See below for more information. (jl)
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Wednesday, December 5, 7:00 PM
Sparkle - An All-Star Holiday Concert benefiting Desert AIDS Project
See below (or click here) for more information. (jl)
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Tuesday, December 4, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Positive Life Series
 The December 4 Positive Life Series 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. Speakers will be Sheila Lo, PharmD from Walgreens, Brian Bilhartz from Bilharz Insurance Agency, and Jan Remm from the County of Riverside. As always, a light supper is served at 6:00 PM, generously provided by Walgreens, 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. Plan to attend--and bring a friend!
The January 8 program will be on HIV and your heart, focusing preventing cardiovascular disease for PLWHA with Dr. David Shamblaw from San Diego.(rv)(jl)
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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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HO HO HO!! Tis the season! Drawing for 40 Christmas Trees!! Sponsored by the Palm Desert High School Vocal Music Program, Dance Team, and Wrestling Team! Get your entry in now! Put your entry in the box in the lobby at D.A.P. or send Ray an email with your name and phone number, or call Ray at 760.323.2118, ext.275 and leave a message. Drawing will be at noon on December 5th. One entry per client please. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! (rv) (jl)
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1st and 2nd Wednesday of the month, starting December 5, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM Community Center Presents - ACCUPUNCTURE FOR CLIENTS!
 Suffering from headaches, insomnia, anxiety, stress or depression? Having neck pain? Pain in lower back or shoulders? Askat Ruzyev, L.Ac., MSTCM, Dipl.O.M.Licensed Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture & Herbology, Nationally Certified by the Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) will be  providing free accupuncture treatments at Desert AIDS Project. Contact Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118 ext. 295 or rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org to schedule your appointment. Registered DAP Clients Only. (jl)
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. (jl)
Look your best with a clip 'n snip!
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Thursday, December 6, 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA
The Terminal (2004)
An eastern immigrant finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there. Director: Steven Spielberg. Actors: Tom Hanks: Viktor Navorski · Catherine Zeta-Jones: Amelia Warren · Stanley Tucci: Frank Dixon Chi McBride: Mulroy · Diego .
LET'S GET OUT TO A MOVIE!
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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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Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center at Desert AIDS Project dedication
 The Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center at Desert AIDS Project will be dedicated at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 30. When Annette Bloch announced her $1 million gift at this year's Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, she said "Having learned some time ago that people with HIV are more likely than other people to develop certain types of cancer, I felt this gift might help to extend the compassionate care I saw at D.A..P. to become even more comprehensive for those clients also living with cancer. That's why I am creating the Annette Bloch Cancer Care Center at Desert AIDS Project with a gift of one million dollars." In addition to recently being honored as Outstanding Philanthropist by the Desert Cities Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Annette Bloch will receive the 100 Women Award at the 2013 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards gala for her additional generosity to women and children affected by HIV/AIDS served by D.A.P. (jl)
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Marking World AIDS Day with a Festival of Lights, art, and hot chocolate
 For the first time in its 28 years of service to the HIV/AIDS community of the Coachella Valley, Desert AIDS Project will have a float in the Festival of Lights Parade when it sets off on its annual trek through downtown Palm Springs as part of the commemoration of World AIDS Day. Lorna Luft, who will be receiving the Community Service Award, sponsored by Jim Burba and Bob Hayes, at the 2013 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards will be riding the float along with gala co-chairs, Jim Casey and Barbara Keller, among others.
Schedule of events:
All Day - A Day With(out) Art at the Palm Springs Art Museum
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - "Getting to Zero," demonstration of international solidarity at The LGBT Community Center of the Desert, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Downtown Palm Springs, with coffee and hot chocolate
5:30 PM Staging for Festival of Lights Parade at Sun Center on Palm Canyon, south of Ramon
5:45 PM Festival of Lights Parade begins
Follow this link for more information about the events and read more about World AIDS Day here. (jl)
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Cozy up with our Fall Progress Report
 Every quarter Desert AIDS Project writes, designs, and publishes a new Progress Report to keep our clients and supporters in the know with current Desert AIDS Project news.
This fall's new issue includes:
- a letter from CEO David Brinkman,
- The Heart of D.A.P.
- Employee Spotlight on our new Medical Director and Chief Program Officer
- One employee's trip to the recent United States Conference on AIDS
- AIDS Walk recap in photos
- Recent Revivals Stores news and updates
- Upcoming Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Follow this link to see the report. (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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Podcast & video of "Berlin Patient" Timothy Brown at SoCal cure forums
With a special thanks to Jeff Taylor, for those who couldn't make it to the presentation, here is a podcast of the Palm Springs Positive Life cure forum with "Berlin Patient" Timothy Brown. It includes Timothy's speech, some interviews with him, and a talk by transplant researcher John Zaia from City of Hope. It's from Nicholas Snow, who has his own snowbiznow.com website.
They are still editing the program and more of it will become available in upcoming weeks. (jl)
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Life expectancy in older people with HIV could exceed the average
 Some more good news on life expectancy! The latest forecasts of life expectancy in people with HIV in the U.K., based on mortality data from the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) study, show that the average life expectancy of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a CD4 count over 350 cells/mm3 is now very close to the national average, the 11th International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection in Glasgow heard last week. The UK CHIC study also found that life expectancy, which lags behind the average in younger people, approaches normal as people age. There is starting to be some evidence -- though based on very small numbers of patient records -- that if people with HIV in the U.K. reach the age of 60, their life expectancy may actually be starting to exceed the average, possibly because of superior medical monitoring and treatment for people with HIV compared to other older people. Read more here. (jl)
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'New' HIV testing guidelines
 Six years after CDC guidelines called for routine HIV testing for everyone ages 13-64, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, an independent group that operates under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services, put forth similar guidelines for those 15 to 64 -- a recommendation that, if adopted, will pave the way for Medicare to pay for such testing. While not a drastic change from the prior CDC recommendations, those guidelines have not been widely implemented, due in part to questions as to who pays for such testing. Read more here. (jl)
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AIDS is a deeply personal concern for young Americans of color
Nearly three times as many Black teens and young adults, and twice as many Latino youth, say HIV/AIDS is an issue that concerns them personally as compared to Whites the same age, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 15-24 year olds in the United States. Read more here. (jl)
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Palm Springs Annual "Walking Tour of the Inns" and Holiday Toy Drive
 In addition to the Festival of Lights Parade, celebrating the holidays in the desert also includes the Annual Walking Tour of the Inns and Toy Drive (aka The Inn Walk) which will take place on Thursday, December 13th, 2012 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM! The goal of the walk is to spread holiday cheer, showcase small hotels in Palm Springs' Historic Tennis Club District and provide toys to the Well in the Desert's Toy Drive. Your editor attended last year for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed this event. The tour starts at the Palm Springs Art Museum any time between 4:00 - 8:00 where you will be given a tour map and flashlight. The hotels are decorated for the holidays and there are holiday themed snacks and hot chocolate! Although the event itself is FREE, it is a toy drive, so bring an unwrapped toy/gift if you can and dress warmly! (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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Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information
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Desert AIDS Project holiday closings for remainder of 2012 and 2013
 2012
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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