DAPCAN - February 14, 2013

The next Positive Life program on March 5 will be a town hall forum on HIV and Diabetes. Dr. Miguel Torres of the Oasis Clinic in Los Angeles will speak on managing blood sugar and insulin resistance while on

antiretroviral therapy. 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! (rv)

Upcoming programs:

April 2: Aging Well with HIV--what to expect as we grow older with HIV, and what to do about it, with Daniel Tietz from ACRIA in NYC.

May 7: Update on latest in HIV treatments and cure research from the Retrovirus Conference, with D.A.P. medical director Dr. Homayoon Khanlou.

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.

Tuesday, February 26, PRESENTATION LUNCHEON, Noon to 1:00 PM

Community Center Presents - HIV 101

Speaker Mike Roy will discuss managing your disease, prevention, and medication updates. Lunch starts at 11:45 AM. Registered D.A.P. clients only. ASL Interpretation available upon request - please contact Ray at least 48 hours in advance. Sponsored by Gilead Sciences, Inc. RSVP to Ray Robertson @ (760) 323-2118 ext

295 or via email to: rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org

BETTER HEALTH THROUGH EDUCATION!

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Tuesdays, Noon - 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: New Meditation Group

Healing Compassion is about a journey to a wellness state-of-being. Certified yoga instructor Jeff Skorman is a teacher and counselor at the Chopra Center Perfect Health and Ayurvedic Lifestyles, Meditation, and Seven Spiritual Laws. Contact Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118,ext. 295, or by email to rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org for more information. (jl)

Learn to tap your inner resources!

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Every Wednesday, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Community Center Presents: Acupuncture Therapy

Learn about the benefits of acupuncture with Askat Ruzyev, L.Ac., MSTCM, Dipl.O.M. He is a licensed practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbology, and is a certified member of the National Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCAOM). For registered D.A.P. clients only. Call Ray to schedule your appointment at 760.323.3118, ext. 295 or by email at rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org.

Improve the quality of your life through better health!

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Every Thursday, 1:00 PM -- Movie and Pizza!

February 21: Tyler Perry's The Family that Preys (2008)

Wealthy socialite Charlotte Cartwright and her dear friend Alice Pratt, a working class woman of high ideals, have enjoyed a lasting friendship throughout many years. Suddenly, their lives become mired in turmoil as their adult children's extramarital affairs, unethical business practices and a dark paternity secret threaten to derail family fortunes and unravel the lives of all involved.

Come out for a good flick!

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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D.A.P. News

'Pathways to hope and healing', a new support group at D.A.P. dealing with challenging emotions!

Every Wednesday at 10:00 AM in the Walgreens Room at Desert AIDS Project, Palm Springs, we'll start with a relaxing cup of hot chocolate. Please contact Dr. Melanie Wolfe at 760.323.2118 ext 226 or Ray Robertson at ext. 295, co-facilitators, for more information. Success is not by Spontaneous Combustion! You must set yourself on Fire! (rv)

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D.A.P. welcomes Darrell Tucci; Sue Knollenberg to retire

Darrell L. Tucci has joined D.A.P. as Chief Development Officer. Tucci was formerly Chief Development Officer and Director of Donor Services at Liberty Hill Foundation in Los Angeles, a nonprofit that seeks to forge a common agenda for equality and opportunity by investing in community leaders who are on the front-lines of change. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2007, Tucci held a variety of nonprofit development positions in New York City, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Montclair State University in New Jersey. "We are so happy to welcome Darrell to D.A.P. after a national search to identify the best candidate for our organization," said CEO David Brinkman. "Even so, we are sorry to see Sue Knollenberg leave us. Ever the consummate professional, she gave us plenty of notice that allowed for this extensive candidate search."

Knollenberg is one of the fewer than 5,400 nonprofit professionals globally to have obtained the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, the only internationally-recognized baseline professional credential for philanthropic executives. With a 21-year tenure in development, her experience includes corporate and foundation relations, major gifts, and leading a capital campaign. Knollenberg's past focus on community health care and health care foundations is what drew her to Desert AIDS Project. Staff, clients, volunteers, and donors join together to wish Sue well in her future endeavors, and we thank her for her many contributions to Desert AIDS Project. (rv)

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Huffington Post picks up Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards ceremony

Nicholas Snow is a D.A.P. client and AIDS activist who works with D.A.P. to continue to spread the word.

His coverage of the Steve Chase gala on Saturday was picked up by the Huffington Post

. (rv)

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CNN interviews Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards recipient Lorna Luft

This Sunday, February 17, at approximately 2:35 PM PST, CNN will be interviewing Lorna Luft, the 2013 Community Service Award recipient at the 19th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. The soundtrack from the ceremony will be used as voice over and some of the video footage may be used throughout the segment as well. (rv)

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HIV & Other Health News

Obama seeks 'AIDS-free generation' in State of the Union

In Tuesday night's State of the Union (SOTU) address, President Obama included AIDS by saying: "In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day. So the United States

will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy; by empowering women; by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve; and helping communities to feed, and power, and educate themselves; by saving the world's children from preventable deaths; and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach." HIV/AIDS activists, while lauding the inclusion of AIDS in the speech, are also urging the President not to make expected huge cuts to global HIV funding, which would undermine the goal of an AIDS-free generation. Read the SOTU address here. (rv)

Eat defensively and avoid digestive distress...or worse

With all the recent news about how quickly influenza, norovirus and other infectious diseases can spread, it's wise to review some tips on how better to protect ourselves. Guidelines on defensive eating for those living with HIV/AIDS are no different than for anyone else; it's simply that our immune problems leave us far more vulnerable to more frequent and severe consequences from a bad oyster or lukewarm potato salad. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides some good advice here for people with HIV/AIDS on staying free of salmonella, e. coli and other nasty consequences of careless eating. Note the information about being aware of expiration dates and intact packaging when shopping, keeping your kitchen clean and the foods we ought never to order in restaurants. The very last thing we need is yet another bug. (sb)

Editorial

Day of the heart

by Rick Vila

The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated

contractions. The average human heart beats at approximately 72 beats per minute, and will beat approximately 2.5 billion times during an average 66 year lifespan. It weighs approximately 250 to 300 grams (9 to 11 ounces) in females and 300 to 350 grams (11 to 12 ounces) in males, and is about the size of a fist. All animals with a circulatory system have hearts, including all vertebrates. It is located in front of the vertebral column and behind the sternum, and has four chambers. Poets, novelists and songwriters have described the heart in countless romantic words, but at the level of biology, the heart is all about chemicals. Although the physiology of romantic love has not been extensively studied, scientists can trace the symptoms of deep attraction to logical sources. For instance, when you see your beloved and your heart starts racing, it is because the brain sends signals to the adrenal

gland which secretes hormones such as adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine. They flow through the blood and cause the heart to beat faster and stronger. The response is similar to a fast heartbeat while running on a treadmill, or exercising. But why the connection between this muscle and love? I think the answer is that love, much like the heart, is our center, the place where our life force vibrates. Love is our nature, and it is what we're all after. Love is the one emotion that makes human beings feel complete. Another vital organ is the brain, the place where thoughts occur, and where our egos reside. If you pay attention you'll notice that our entire lives are a dance between brain and heart. The brain thinks while the heart feels. More is unknown than known about St. Valentine. However, both Catholic and Protestant theologians agree that he was martyred in Rome in the third century, on February 14. In modern times we celebrate St. Valentine as a symbol of (mostly) romantic love. The mythology of St. Valentine is replete with uncertainties though most agree that Valentine the saint was in love with God. I like to think of St. Valentine symbolically to remind me of the tension between heart (love) and brain(ego), and am inspired on this day to let my heart lead, and my brain follow. After all, despite Valentine being silenced by his fellow citizens (surely an ego-centered action), he has lived on for centuries inspiring us to love (a heart-centered feeling). In the end, love always wins. Celebrate your heart. Happy Valentine's Day!

This & That

Civil unions approved for Colorado; Illinois advances on gay marriage

The Democrat-controlled Colorado state Senate voted 21-14 to approve a civil-unions bill. Senate Bill 11 will allow gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions. SB 11 now goes to the Democrat-controlled House, where it is expected to pass. Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, has pushed for civil unions. If all goes as expected, the governor will sign the bill in March and the law will go into effect on May 31. Colorado would be the ninth state to have civil unions or a similar law. In a symbolic Valentine's Day vote, the Illinois Senate also advanced gay marriage in a 34-21 vote, now headed to the House, where passage in the lower chamber is less certain. Should Illinois approve gay marriage, it would be the 10th state to do so. President Obama and Governor Quinn of Illinois have both expressed support. As part of "Freedom to Marry Week," today same-sex couples will request marriage licenses in 18 places around the country, including a number of states where same sex-marriage is not legal, to highlight the injustice. (rv)

Modernism Week bigger than ever

Beginning today, Palm Springs Modernism Week, the only such event in the country, returns to Palm Springs as the famous worldwide celebration of mid-twentieth century design, architecture and culture, it has become. Many homes and buildings, designed and built by forward-thinking architects and designers in the 1950s - '60s, reflect the clean, simple lines psmod

and elegant informality which has come define desert modernism. Following the 2001 success of the first Modernism Show, a whole week of events began in 2006, it has grown in popularity, attendance and contributions to the local economy ever since. The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, Palm Springs Modern Committee, Palm Springs Historical Society, and the Architecture and Design Council of the Palm Springs Art Museum are the main organizers of events, although many patrons and volunteers contribute as well. Click here for the Modernism Week website, events and ticket information. And click here for a fun video. Then come out and see some of the art and places you may not even have known about! (sb)(rv)

Quote of the Week

"Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved."
- Alain de Botton, On Love

Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information

Healthcare reform changes begin in earnest this year

healtcarenewway With the U.S. Supreme Court's affirmation of the Affordable Care Act last year, genuine and major healthcare changes are beginning in 2013 and will continue to be implemented over the next few years. This year will bring improved preventative healthcare coverage, increased Medicaid payments to primary care doctors and simpler, bundled billing options. Most importantly, the "donut hole" of Medicare Part D drug plan co-pays begins to close this year. Regardless of your current insurance situation, click here for a government website that provides some guidance regarding Medicare, Medicaid and other possible insurance options (albeit limited) for those living with disabilities and/or chronic health issues (pay particular attention to the Medicare and Timeline tabs). And click here for an even more detailed summary. (sb)

Federal benefit paper checks stop soon--learn how to switch to e-deposit

godirect If you still get federal benefits in the form of a paper check, it's time to make the switch to electronic deposit as soon as possible. Paper check payments of Social Security, SSD, VA and other federal benefits will end soon and recipients must make the switch to an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013. Options include direct deposit to a bank or credit union account (contact them for instructions) or receiving benefits on a Direct Express Debit Mastercard. Those applying for federal benefit payments for the first time are now required to choose an electronic payment method upon application. Electronic payments are safer, easier and more convenient for benefit recipients--in fact, no payment of benefits via direct electronic deposit has ever been lost! It allows you immediate access to your funds from virtually anywhere. If you do not have a bank account, or are not sure you can get one, look into a Treasury Department-sponsored ETA account. To learn more about the switch, visit the Go Direct website. (jl) (sb)

ADAP may pay Medicare Part D premium

Part D 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)

Help with Medicare
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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, phone is 951.241.8723. Follow this link for more information.

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Help with paying private health insurance premiums may be available

If you or someone you are close to are HIV positive and paying for private health insurance, there may be help in paying 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 it. Follow this link to see if you qualify, and also check out the above links in the Healthcare reforms article. (jl) (sb)

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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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.* Find out if you qualify: schedule 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, the local ADAP office is right across the driveway, south of D.A.P., at the Palm Springs Family Care Center. Specify the Palm Springs office when you call. 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. Many people 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 uninterrupted services with your D.A.P. medical doctor visits.

**NOTICE: 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.)

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Riverside County Healthcare Patients: QUEST LAB DRAW LOCATIONS

Riverside County Healthcare (RCHC) Lab services are provided at both Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) in Moreno Valley and Quest Diagnostics. Remember: All RCHC patients currently going to LabCorp are now directed to Quest Diagnostics. Please call Quest before arriving at the location to ensure that they have received your lab order. If not, contact your provider. And always get your blood draw two weeks before your next appointment with your doctor. (rv) (sb)

Here are local Quest Diagnostics locations for your convenience:

555 Tachevah Drive, Suite 102W

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.318.4387

36101 Bob Hope Drive, Suite E6

Rancho Mirage, CA

760.323.8833

701 Highland Springs Avenue, Suite 6
Beaumont, CA

951.845.8013

1011 E Devonshire Avenue, Suite 103
Hemet, CA

951.652.3674

Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County

riv211 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)

D.A.P. holiday closings for 2013

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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D.A.P. contact information coolcomputer

bluemanphone 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)

DAPCAN back issues always available online

Need another look at something you read in DAPCAN? 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 here. And we've recently updated these links to ensure that the very latest issues of DAPCAN are always available. (jl)

Contact information for state and federal officials--click on name:

President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Representative Raul Ruiz
Representative Mark Takano
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
State Assembly member Brian Nestande
State Assembly member Manuel 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:

For questions, comments, or unsubscribe contact us at: DAPCAN@DesertAIDSProject.org

Additional Contacts/Social Networking