DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
May 30, 2013
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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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Tuesday, June 4, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Positive Life Series - HIV & Sex
 The next Positive Life presentation, "HIV & Sex - What You Need to Know About STDs," will feature Dr. Rick Loftus. 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. No need to RSVP. Questions? Email positivelifeseries@gmail.com. Plan to attend and bring a friend!  And Positive Life is now on Facebook! Sign on, visit and like us here.Upcoming Programs:
July and August: Positive Life will be on hiatus--have a great summer!
September 3: HIV & the Law--What You Need to Know, with local attorney Andrew Alder.
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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:
Every Wednesday, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY
Every Thursday, 1:00 PM (no RSVP needed)
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
Check out the complete Community Center Schedule for all programs and drop-in hours.
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D.A.P. and Community News
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Barbara Keller to succeed Curt Ringess as D.A.P. executive board chairperson
At its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 28, the board of directors of Desert AIDS Project welcomed Barbara Keller to its executive board. Curt Ringess, outgoing D.A.P. board chairman, said "I am so pleased that Barbara Keller accepted my nomination to replace me after more than five years as chairman. She has been an absolute delight to work with over these last five years she's been a board member. She's also been an outstanding co-chair of the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards along with Jim Casey and for Dinner at My Place with Steve Kaufer." Ringess continued by saying, "Barbara and her husband, Jerry, are both shining examples of what community leadership and philanthropy are all about. I'm proud to be working with Barbara and the rest of the board, to continue fulfilling the mission of Desert AIDS Project." In other board news, Steve Lachs, Fred Drewette, and Tammy Fox will continue as vice chair, treasurer, and secretary, respectively. Ringness will remain as a board member, along with Ted Briggs and Steve Kaufer, who were re-elected to new terms. Dr. Lanny Seese and Steve Winters declined to run for their positions again. In addition, other Desert AIDS Project board members include Kevin Bass, Carolyn Caldwell, Jim Casey, Dr. Bob Karl, Terri Ketover, Garry Kief, Bruce Purdy, and Sheila Williams. This board slate will be effective on July 1, the beginning of D.A.P.'s new fiscal year. We wish Barbara and the board much success in their new term. (rv)
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Dedicated phone line for RCHC HIV patient medications
The Warm Line, also being called the Compliance Program Line, is a separate phone line for Riverside County HealthCare's (RCHC) HIV patients to order refills and receive medications from Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) pharmacy. By calling the number below, patients will reach a dedicated team of pharmacists to ensure they receive the medications needed. Call: 951.486.4442, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays. Also p lease allow 2 business days for medications to be ready for pick up at the RCRMC Pharmacy in Moreno Valley, and 7 business days for medications to be mailed to patient's home. If you leave a voice mail with your contact number, phone calls are generally returned within 1 business day. (rv)
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HIV/AIDS & Other Health News
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Supercomputer Blue Waters helping crack HIV code
Scientists have been investigating the structure of the HIV capsid for a long time. The HIV capsid is the protein shell that protects the virus' genetic material, helps debilitate the infected person's immune system, and is the target for the development of new antiretroviral drugs. Thanks to the supercomputer Blue Waters, the mystery finally has been unraveled. Blue Waters is a relatively new supercomputer that can manage one quadrillion floating point operations every second and was able to piece together the entire HIV capsid -- which consists of more than 1,300 identical proteins that form a cone-like structure -- in atomic-level detail. With this new detailed structure of the capsid uncovered, scientists will be better informed with respect to how the virus functions and how to treat infection. Read the CNET article here. (rv)
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Palm Springs Art Museum announces annual free summer film schedule
 One of the literally coolest things about summer in the desert is the free film program presented at the Annenberg Theater (pictured) at the Palm Springs Art Museum. The program begins on Thursday, June 6 at 6:00 PM and continues every Thursday all summer. It starts with selections from the 2013 Global Lens foreign film series, including intriguing titles such as About 111 Girls, Life Kills Me and Beijing Flickers. Classic American comedies come later in summer, including The Apartment, Harvey and Young Frankenstein. Click here for the schedule and start marking your calendars as the film series is very popular and you'll need to arrive early to ensure a seat in the comfortable and cool Annenberg Theater. (sb)
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Be an activist with your story
The Federal AIDS Policy Partnership's Ryan White Workgroup is working hard to educate Congress on the importance of a continued, robust Ryan White Program as our country prepares to implement the Affordable Care Act.
Established in 2002, the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) is a coalition of local, regional, and national organizations advocating for progressive federal HIV/AIDS legislation and policy. FAPP members are organizations that devote significant resources in support of federal HIV/AIDS public policy advocacy. FAPP is managed by a twenty-person Convening Group that consists of at-large members and a liaison from each of the affiliated working groups.
The Ryan White Work Group is an affiliated working group of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership committed to ensuring that the Ryan White Program continues to provide appropriate primary care and treatment and support services to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The Work Group works on the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, implementation of changes to the law, interaction with other private and public health programs, and on-going communication with HRSA. Where we know that the Ryan White Program will continue, we want to make sure that Congress appropriates the funds necessary to operate the program.
To that end, we need your help. Congress needs to hear the impact the program has made to the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. Tell your story on how the Ryan White Program has impacted your life. In one page or less please include:
- Your Name as you would like it shared
- Your City and State
- What service(s) you have received
- How your life has been changed because of these services (T-cell, viral load, quality of life, income, overall health and mental health, etc.)
- What might have happened had you not been connected to Ryan White-funded services
Please send your submission to campbell@housingworks.org or fax to 202-408-1142 by June 7th, 2013.(rv)
Thank you!
Editor's note: this is a direct appeal from APLA/AIDS Project Los Angeles
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Through end of this month, take LGBT Health Needs Survey and add your voice to help ensure funding and resources
 The LGBT Community Center of the Desert is continuing its comprehensive LGBT Health Needs Survey of the Coachella Valley through the end of this month. In partnership with a local health research company, the Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC), the Center has designed an online survey to assess the health needs of the local LGBT community. Information obtained from this survey will help The Center design programs and services to better meet your specific needs, and obtain additional funding to provide new programs and services. Click here for all the information you need to take the survey. Your editors took it and found it painless! It's all online, completely anonymous, takes approximately 20 minutes and is ultimately for your own benefit! (jl) (sb)
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Please let the Ryan White Program hear your voice when their survey hits your mailbox later this month!
 The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program--one of D.A.P.'s largest funders--has been mailing out its satisfaction survey to most clients. A postage-paid envelope is included. The survey is sent only to clients who have indicated they accept mail on their intake or update forms. So if your mailing preferences have changed, please contact your medical case manager, so we can update records accordingly. For clients who don't receive mail, hard copies will be provided upon request at D.A.P. Surveys in Spanish are also available. If you have visited another agency funded by the Ryan White Program in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties, you may receive  multiple surveys. Look for the agency name at the top of the survey before completing it. Although the Ryan White Program will provide D.A.P. with a cumulative summary of comments and ratings, your responses to the survey will be completely anonymous. D.A.P. is eager to learn where improvements can be made and this survey is a great opportunity to contribute your thoughts, so if you haven't done so already, please complete and return the survey. (jl) (sb)
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Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information
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CDC launches re-designed HIV website
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched its newly designed HIV website. With more than 8 million page views in 2012, the CDC site is one of the most-visited HIV websites on the Internet. Because so many people depend on CDC for the latest HIV science and public health information, as well as for campaign and educational materials, policies, and guidelines, the site was redesigned to give various audiences a more intuitive and useful way to find relevant, personal and useful information. Be aware that the site is somewhat front-heavy on HIV prevention but has portals to many other types of information. Click through sub-sections for more on living with HIV, treatments, etc. Click www.cdc.gov/hiv to experience the new site. (jl) (sb)
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Positively Aware's online HIV drug guide 
 You can check here anytime for the latest information about your antivirals--dosages, side-effects, etc, courtesy of Positively Aware. (sb)
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Keep track of healthcare reform changes
 The Affordable Healthcare Act is being implemented and it's important to keep track of changes in coverage and payment options. 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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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/ADAP applications can get lost in the process. 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. Otherwise, follow up your annual meeting with ADAP with a call to ensure all your paperwork was received and is complete.
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D.A.P. contact information 
 The local phone number of Desert AIDS Project is 760.323.2118. The toll-free phone number is 866.331.3344 and the website is desertaidsproject.org.
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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
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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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