DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
April 4, 2013
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Don't let anyone keep from pursuing your dreams!
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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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Thursday, April 25: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner!
Dining Out For Life
 Last year, more than 40 restaurants participated in and contributed to Dining Out for Life. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, bagels or a drink at the bar, these restaurants and diners like you supported client services Desert AIDS Project! We're thrilled and wowed by all the community support. Do Good. Eat Well. Dine Out and Fight AIDS! Click here for more information. (jl)(rv)
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Tuesday, May 7, 6:00 - 8:00 PM: Positive Life Series
CROI update
 Update on latest in HIV treatments and cure research from the Retrovirus Conference (CROI), with D.A.P. medical director Dr. Homayoon Khanlou. 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)
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July 3 - 7: Hilton LAX & various locations
Los Angeles Black Pride 2013
Follow this link for more information.(jl)
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Desert AIDS Project's Community Services Wing, also known as the Community Center, houses many activities and programs including arts and crafts workshops, bingo, movies, lending library and drop-in hours when clients may come in to just hang out with friends. The Community Center also hosts educational programs and classes designed to increase health literacy and empower clients to participate more in their own care. Follow this link to see details about next week's featured events listed below. If you would like to attend any of these events, please RSVP to Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or email rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org.
Upcoming Community Center featured events:
Wednesday, April 10, Noon - 1:00 PM
Luncheon presentation: READING AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR LABS!
Tuesday, April 16, Noon - 1:00 PM
Luncheon presentation: FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEP-C
Every Thursday, 1:00 PM (no RSVP needed)
MOVIE & PIZZA! "Meet the Parents"
Ongoing Community Center activities:
- 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
Be sure to check out the complete Community Center Schedule for ongoing programs and drop-in hours.
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Inland Empire HIV Planning Council meetings to be held at D.A.P.!
 The Inland Empire HIV Planning Council (IEHPC) is the local policy making body in charge of prioritizing services and allocating funds granted from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A to Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Desert AIDS Project is a grant recipient. Last year, over 2,000 clients benefited from services funded by this program. Usually convening in the City of San Bernardino, IEHPC will hold several meetings at Desert AIDS Project during the month of April including this month's full Planning Council meeting. The public are welcome to attend.
April 11 Planning Committee 9:30 - 11:30 AM in D.A.P. Library Continuum of Care Committee 12:30 - 1:30 PM in D.A.P. Library Evaluation of the Administrative Mechanism Committee 1:30 - 2:30 PM in D.A.P. Library April 25 Empowerment Committee 10:00 - 11:30 AM in D.A.P. Situation Room Planning Council 12:30 - 3:30 PM in D.A.P. Library This is a unique opportunity for you to see how the Planning Council allocates Ryan White funds. There are also public comment sections at each meeting where you will have a chance to address the Council. More information, including agenda packets, can be found by visiting www.iehpc.org or by calling 909.693.0750. (jl) Back to top
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Join Travis and Ben at the depression/anxiety support group
 You may have seen Travis and Ben standing (sitting or lying) in the lobby on Wednesdays around 10:00 AM. Now is your chance to come and meet these two wonderful Therapy Dogs. The boys will be joining our Pathways to Hope and Healing support group on Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30. Have some hot chocolate, give the boys a hug and let's see if we can help with depression/ anxiety or any other emotional problems you might be experiencing. (jl) Back to top
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HIV/AIDS and Other Health News
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NYC health department warns of a deadly meningitis strain
 A deadly strain of bacterial meningitis has been issued by the New York City health department, warning residents that they should be vaccinated as the strain could be lethal. Reports indicate that the symptoms come on quickly and the disease can be fatal if not treated immediately. It has also only been seen in men, and patients often contract it through anonymous sexual encounters with other men, which can makes it difficult to trace the infection's path. The good news is the standard meningitis vaccine is effective against the new strain. The health department is advising it for men regardless of HIV status who regularly have contact with other men they meet online, at a bar or party. You can read more here. (jl)
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Scientists close in on AIDS vaccine blueprint
 In what may be an important step toward a long-elusive AIDS vaccine, American researchers have closely tracked one person's powerful immune response to the virus to see how a series of mutations led to an antibody that can defeat many HIV strains. Scientists are now attempting to create a vaccine that harmlessly mimics the virus at key points in the observed process to generate broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies, first in uninfected animals and then in uninfected people. You can read more here and here. (jl)
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14 patients in 'remission' after controlling HIV for over 4 years off treatment
 Two weeks ago, the announcement that a baby had been 'functionally cured' of HIV disease with the use of very early antiretroviral therapy (ART) caused great excitement. Now a study from France has found 14 adult patients who also started a course of ART soon after infection, who subsequently stopped it, and have not had to re-start because they have largely - and in eight cases completely - maintained undetectable viral loads for at least four years after stopping therapy (the baby has, so far, only managed a year off therapy). You can read more here. (jl)
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Dementia care cost Is projected to double by 2040
 The most rigorous study to date of how much it costs to care for Americans with dementia found that the financial burden is at least as high as that of heart disease or cancer, and is probably higher. And both the costs and the number of people with dementia will more than double within 30 years, skyrocketing at a rate that rarely occurs with a chronic disease. You can read more here. (jl)
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More evidence that cup of coffee is good for you!
 Researchers have found good evidence that drinking coffee reduces the risk of liver cancer by half. They reviewed the results of 16 separate studies. Overall, people who drank coffee were about 50% less likely than non-coffee-drinkers to develop liver cancer. The findings of this study add to the evidence suggesting that drinking coffee has benefits for the health of the liver, and are therefore likely to be of particular interest to people living with HIV who have hepatitis B or hepatitis C co-infection. The benefits seem to be connected to chemicals in caffeine. You can read more here. (jl)
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More about the "chained CPI"
 In last week's issue Rick Vila wrote an article about the possible changing of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and veterans benefits, resulting in a combined $146 billion in cuts over the next 10 years. The COLA change, called the "chained CPI," would hurt seniors, veterans, and disabled Americans who already live on tight budgets stretched by rising utility costs, grocery bills, and health care. Frankly, I hadn't heard much about the "chained CPI" nor did I understand how it worked, or how it might impact me. As you might imagine, AARP has taken a keen interest in this and has a number of articles and videos explaining how it works, and it's impact on particular groups. Here are links to some of the articles that I found helpful:
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Tell Gov. Jerry Brown to support full implementation of Obamacare
 There's a new threat to Obamacare: Sacramento. Gov. Brown is holding up negotiations on the bill to expand Medicaid coverage to more than one million Californians. He's proposed 63 pages of amendments to the excellent bill passed by the Legislature. Some of his suggestions are worse than those made by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer! Sign on and tell Gov. Brown: "Be a 'good partner' on healthcare reform as you promised. Support ABX1-1 and SBX1-1 without amendments. Don't risk undermining President Obama's signature achievement." (jl)
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In Kansas, could you be quarantined for being HIV-positive?
Our friends at the Positive Justice Project and Kansas Equality warn that a Kansas House Bill will broadly allow the quarantine of HIV positive people. The original bill was meant to serve first responders who might be at risk of "occupational exposure" to HIV in their work.
The new bill will expand the authority of state and local health officials to quarantine people living with HIV:
- These measures allow open discrimination of people living with HIV by public officials lacking knowledge about HIV.
- Anyone can now claim "occupational exposure" to HIV and seek involuntary testing of the individual they claim exposed them.
Why do we need a quick response? The governor of Kansas is expected to sign this bill into law in a few days. Help people living with HIV in Kansas by taking action now. You can also read more about this here. (jl)
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PSPD to hold zero tolerance Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign
 As part of April's Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, the Palm Springs Police Department will be actively ticketing those texting or operating hand-held cell phones. Drivers who break the law will be cited with no warnings. Studies show that texting while driving can delay a driver's reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver. To avoid a distracted driving ticket or crash, the Palm Springs Police Department offers drivers the following tips: -Turn off your phone and/or put it out of reach while driving. -Include in your outgoing message that you can't answer while you are driving. -Don't call or text anyone at a time when you think they may be driving. (jl) Back to top
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| "'Kindness' covers all of my political beliefs," he wrote, at the end of his memoirs. "No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out." -- Roger Ebert.
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Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information
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Keep track of healthcare reform changes
 If you are on Medicare, it's important to keep track of ongoing changes in coverage and payment options. Most importantly, the "donut hole" of Medicare Part D drug plan co-pays begins to close this year (see below). 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)
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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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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 counselor is located at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs and can be reached at 760.323.5689. Follow this link for more information.
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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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Help paying for private health insurance premiums
If you or someone you are close to is 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. You do NOT need to be a D.A.P. client to access OA-HIPP. Follow this link to see if you qualify, and also check out the above links in the Healthcare reforms article. (jl) (sb)
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Quest Diagnostics website
Riverside County Healthcare (RCHC) Lab services are provided at both Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) in Moreno Valley and Quest Diagnostics. All former LabCorps patients are now served at Quest. Click here or above for the Quest website: locations, hours and to make an appointment. Back to top |
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D.A.P. contact information
 The Desert AIDS Project local phone number is 
760.323.2118. The toll-free phone number is 866.331.3344 and the website is desertaidsproject.org.
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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. Call no sooner than four weeks before your ADAP qualifying expiration date (usually around your birthday). 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.
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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)
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D.A.P. holiday closings for 2013
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 |
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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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Contact information for state and federal officials--click on name:
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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