|
DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
December 20, 2012
|
|
|
|
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world." - Mister Rogers
|
|
|
|
Editorial Staff
| |
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
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, January 8, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Positive Life Series
 The next Positive Life program on January 8 will be on HIV and Your Heart Health, focusing on preventing cardiovascular disease for PLWHA. The speaker will be Dr. David Shamblaw of San Diego--sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. 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. Plan to attend--and bring a friend!
Back to top
|
|
Monday, December 31, 8:00 PM
Fifty Shades of Dusque:
An erotic musical journey benefiting Desert AIDS Project.
See below for more information or click here. (jl)
Back to top
|
|
D.A.P. Community Center Events
|
|
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.
|
Second and third Wednesday each month, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Community Center Presents - ACUPUNCTURE 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 acupuncture treatments twice monthly at D.A.P. Contact Ray at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org to schedule your appointment. Registered D.A.P. clients only. (jl)
Improve your quality of life through new ideas!
|
Third Friday of Every Month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
NOW TWO PROFESSIONALS CUTTING!!
Community Center Presents: HAIRCUTS BY MITCH and MIKEY!
 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!
Back to top
|
Thursday, December 27, 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA
101 Dalmations (1996) Great Comedy!
Director: Stephen Herek. Actors: Glenn Close: Cruella De Vil · Jeff Daniels: Roger · Joely Richardson: Anita · Joan Plowright: Nanny · Hugh Laurie: Jasper · Mark
LET'S GET OUT TO A MOVIE!
|
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.
Back to top
|
D.A.P. Holiday closure schedule
 Desert AIDS Project offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, December 24, and 25, and on Tuesday January 1, 2013. DAPCAN will not be published next week but will resume with the January 3, 2013 issue.
|
Fifty Shades of Dusque:
An erotic musical journey benefiting Desert AIDS Project.
 When the clock strikes midnight and the Veuve Clicquot corks are popped, Palm Springs will be ringing in the New Year with one of the most anticipated shows to ever hit the desert playground, 'Fifty Shades of Dusque: An Erotic Musical Journey.' Enjoy cocktails, dinner, wine service, and a musical, followed by an After Party Disco! Click here for tickets and more information. A portion of proceeds benefits Desert AIDS Project. (jl)
|
Stitch in Time is accepting new members!
If you like to sew, or want to learn how, call Rick, or just show up!
Back to top
|
Six promising HIV drugs in the pipeline
 Despite the current availability of 26 FDA-approved antiretroviral drugs, we continue to need newer drugs that are more potent, less toxic, more tolerable, more convenient, and/or have improved virologic activity against drug-resistant viral strains. The current antiretroviral agent pipeline is full, with new investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), entry inhibitors (EIs), integrase inhibitors (IIs), and other compounds with new mechanisms of action. Investigational agents that have unique properties and those that are the farthest along in clinical development are discussed here. (jl)
|
Milton Hershey School pays for discrimination
 Abraham Smith, a middle-school student who was initially denied admission to a private school because he is HIV-positive has won a historic settlement. In mid September, Smith and his mother reached a settlement with the Pennsylvania school for $700,000. The school was also ordered to pay $15,000 in civil penalties, draft nondiscrimination and equal opportunity policies, and implement training on HIV and other disabilities for staff and students by next April. Read more here. (jl)
|
AIDS Activist Spencer Cox dies at 44 Spencer Cox, the pivotal AIDS activist who co-founded ACT-UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) and was featured in David France's recent documentary How to Survive a Plague, has died at Columbia Presbyterian of AIDS related causes, France writes in a note: As a very young man fresh from Bennington, where he studied Theater and English Literature, he arrived in NYC after finishing just 3 years. He was diagnosed with HIV soon thereafter. By 1989, at age 20, he had become spokesman for ACT UP during its zenith through the early 90s. A member of its renowned Treatment & Data committee, and later co-founder of TAG (the Treatment Action Group), he schooled himself in the basic science of AIDS and became something of an expert, a "citizen scientist" whose ideas were sought by working scientists. In the end, Spencer wrote the drug trial protocol which TAG proposed for testing the promising protease inhibitor drugs in 1995. Adopted by industry, it helped develop rapid and reliable answers about the power of those drugs, and led to their quick approval by the FDA.
Even before ACT UP, he began work for amfAR, first as a college intern, eventually going on staff as assistant to Director of Public Affairs, responsible for communications and policy. ). He left there to co-found the Community Research Initiative on AIDS (now the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, ACRIA) with Dr. Joseph Sonnabend and Marisa Cardinale (Marisa Cardinale <marisacard@aol.com>). At ACRIA, he ran public affairs and edited all publications.
From 1994 to 1999, he was Director of the HIV Project for TAG, where he did his groundbreaking work in drug trials designs. He designed the drug trial adopted in part by Abbott as they were developing Norvir, the first Protease Inhibitor to head into human trials. It had an "open standard-of-care arm," allowing people on the control arm to take any other anti-AIDS drugs their doctors prescribed, versus the arm taking any other anti-AIDS drugs plus Norvir. It was this study that showed a 50% drop in mortality in 6 months. Norvir was approved in late 1995. Though the results were positive, the proposal sharply divided the community, many of whom thought it was cruel to withhold Norvir on the control arm. Spencer defended himself in a controversial BARON'S cover story that made him, briefly, the most-hated AIDS activist in America. Ultimately he was vindicated. Watch the final interview with Spencer Cox shot by David France for his moving documentary here at Towleroad.com. (jl)
|
The HIV/AIDS Top 10 lists for 2012 As another year comes to a close we take a moment to look back and review the events of the last 12 months. One of the most significant developments of 2012 is the prediction that we may soon see the end of AIDS. This is an unprecedented optimism that is fueled by a stream of good news: Therapies are getting better and better, effective prevention -- once wishful thinking -- is a reality that is evident in the downward slope of new HIV diagnoses in many parts of the globe, and there has even been less bad news from the HIV vaccine development effort. Here is the BodyPro.com l ist of Top 10 clinical developments from the past year that should leave us feeling good -- or that show what work still needs to be done. And because it is the end of the year, and people can't seem to keep themselves from making year-end lists, here is another Top 10 HIV stories list from JournalWatch.org. (jl)
|
ADAP may pay Medicare Part D premium
 Since we at are the start of a new policy year, this bears repeating... 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.
Editor's note: I took advantage of this program last year and have already reapplied for this coming year. The application is simple and doesn't require a great deal of effort. I strongly urge you to look into this if you are on ADAP and paying for Part-D coverage! (jl)
|
Help with paying private health insurance premiums may be available
 If you are HIV-positive and are paying for private health insurance, you may be able to get help paying your premiums. The California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS (OA) administers the Health Insurance Premium Payment (OA-HIPP) Program. OA has expanded OA-HIPP to make this program available to more individuals with health insurance who are at risk of losing it and to individuals currently without health insurance who would like to purchase health insurance.
Editor's note: A friend of mine got approved and OA-HIPP is paying his entire Kaiser premium, saving him $7500/year! Follow this link to see if you qualify. (jl)
|
|
Call Congress and the President to Protect HIV/AIDS Programs!
 House Speaker Boehner and President Obama are negotiating now to reduce the federal deficit and avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff." Critical services, upon which millions of Americans rely, including people living with HIV/AIDS, are at risk for cuts. Here's what is on the line: The Ryan White Program, Medicaid, Medicare, housing support services, HIV prevention, and other programs that make up the safety net for vulnerable Americans with HIV/AIDS -- and the NIH-supported research that could hold the keys to ending the pandemic. Negotiations on this issue will end soon, so you need to make your voice heard now!
Please call Speaker Boehner, President Obama, and Senator Reid and tell them to prevent harmful cuts and caps to health care and programs for the most vulnerable Americans, including those that support people with HIV/AIDS. We need a fair and balanced approach now! Please make calls today!
Please call with this message:
- "I am calling to ask Speaker Boehner/President Obama/Senator Reid to prevent harmful cuts and caps to health care, research, and programs for those who are low-income, including those that support people living with HIV/AIDS, such as the Ryan White Program, Medicaid, Medicare, housing, and prevention programs! We need a fair and balanced approach now that prevents further cuts to these vital programs!
- "Balancing the budget on the backs of vulnerable Americans, including those living with HIV, is wrong, will potentially cost lives, and will cut jobs in the health care and human needs sectors.
- "Early and reliable access to HIV care, treatment, and support helps people with HIV live healthy and productive lives and is cost effective. Investing in HIV prevention today translates into better health outcomes and less spending in the future.
- "In my state/district, such programs are greatly needed, because (insert local details or tell personal story)." (jl)
Back to top
|
Calls your Senators now: Don't mess with Social Security! The fiscal deal taking shape right now isn't good. To stop it, we need to act fast. The deal the media reports President Obama and Republican John Boehner appear close to striking includes a change to Social Security that amounts to benefit cuts "of more than 5% and more as the years go by." For millions of seniors living on a fixed income, that 5% goes to crucial medicine, food, and daily necessities. And the deal would leave in place some of the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 2% that President Obama previously promised to oppose. The good news is that we really do have a chance at stopping this bad deal. After Democrats picked up five Senate seats in the election last month, Senate Leader Harry Reid said, "We are not going to mess with Social Security." If we let him and other senators know we've got their backs, we'll have a chance-but we need to act right now since final negotiations may be happening today!
Call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer right now and ask them:
"Senate Democrats have been vocal opponents of cuts to Social Security benefits. Can I count on you to do everything in your power to stop this deal if it includes the reported cuts to Social Security benefits?"
Here's where to call:
Senator Dianne Feinstein Phone: 202.224.3841
Additionally, AARP is sponsoring an online letter writing campaign where you can send an email to Congress telling them to say NO to cutting benefits to reduce the deficit.
Make your call and sign the petition today! (jl)
Back to top |
|
"We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law -- no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society. But that can't be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this."
- President Barrack Obama speaking at a prayer vigil in Newtown, CT.
Back to top
|
|
Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information
|
|
|
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
Back to top
|
|
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)
|
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)
Back to top
|
|
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)
|
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) |
|
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)
Back to top |
|
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
Back to top
|
|
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)
Back to top
|
Help with paying private health insurance premiums may be available
If you are HIV positive and are paying for private health insurance, you may be able to get help paying your premiums. The California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS (OA) administers the Health Insurance Premium Payment (OA-HIPP) Program. OA has expanded OA-HIPP to make this program available to more individuals with health insurance who are at risk of losing it and to individuals currently without health insurance who would like to purchase health insurance.
Editor's note: A friend of mine got approved and OA-HIPP is paying his entire Kaiser premium, saving him $7500/year! Follow this link to see if you qualify. (jl)
|
|
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)
Back to top
|
|
To contact state and federal officials click on name:
President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (we'll provide contact information for Rep.-elect Raul Ruiz in January)
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
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:
|
|
|
Additional Contacts/Social Networking
| |
|
|
|
|
|
