Hope you all had a wonderful summer. Positive Life will resume on September 3 with "HIV & the Law--What You Need to Know", with local attorney Andrew Alder. The programs are always the first Tuesday of each month at the Sinatra Auditorium of Desert Regional Medical Center (at the corner of Tachevah & Miraleste) A light supper is served at 6:00 PM, and the program begins at 6:30 PM. ASL provided. Questions? E-mail positiveliveseries@gmail.com. Positive Life is now on Facebook! Sign on, visit and like us here.

Future programs:

Oct 1: HIV benefits: ACA open enrollment begins Oct 1. Learn how ObamaCare will affect you, and changes to Ryan White, Riverside County HealthCare, etc.

Nov 5: HIV & Kidney Health: with Dr. Ruben Gamundi.

Dec 3: Aging well with HIV

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D.A.P. News

Desert AIDS Project campus closed for Labor Day

Desert AIDS Project offices will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. LabCorp and Walgreens will also be closed. (jl)

Our "Love Lives On" for Jason Altieri

Desert AIDS Project staff were devastated to learn of the recent death of Jason Altieri, longtime D.A.P. supporter and partner of D.A.P. board member Jim Casey. It was hard not to spot Jason from across a room at various Desert AIDS Project fundraisers and events, including the annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. During the last gala in February, Jim praised Jason on-stage for his love and devotion throughout their partnership during the height of the AIDS crisis. Jason and Jim's commitment to the mission of D.A.P. was highlighted last November during a dedication ceremony and unveiling of the "Love Lives On" signage on the north side of the building. At the ceremony, Jim spoke lovingly of his partner and their combined passion to work for a world without AIDS. D.A.P.'s love for Jason will continue to live on, with his spirit forever instilled in the hearts and minds of clients, staff, volunteers, and supporters. (jl)

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Desert AIDS Project begins 30th year of service and is recognized as one of the "Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities"!

A group of concerned volunteers in 1984 offered their help to a growing number of people who were becoming terribly ill - often dying within weeks or months - of what came to be identified as the AIDS epidemic. As this group developed into Desert AIDS Project, they have offered care, prevention, and advocacy services to tens of thousands of people in our community who are infected with, affected by, or at-risk for HIV or AIDS.

"Beginning our 30^th year of service today, Desert AIDS Project still lies at the epicenter of the epidemic locally for vulnerable populations," said David Brinkman, CEO of D.A.P. "While huge strides have been made all around the world since the first diagnoses in 1981 and we hope that we are on the brink of creating an 'AIDS-free generation,' we still have much work to do caring for those who need our help and preventing the further spread of HIV."

Earlier this month, About.com - a top 40 U.S. website attracting more than 86 million users monthly - included Desert AIDS Project in its list of the Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities. About.com's peer-reviewed Health Channel includes over 1,000 topics curated by researchers, physicians, medical writers, and healthcare professionals. It was the recipient of the 2013 Web Health Award, honoring the best digital health resources in the U.S. The "Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities" list was assembled by Dennis Sifris, MD and James Myhre for About.com. Dr. Sifris is an HIV specialist and Chief Medical Officer of LifeSense Disease Management, an HIV-managed care company based in South Africa, while Mr. Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. Together, they noted, "Having experienced the pandemic from the earliest days-and from the perspective of two continents-has given us the opportunity to see just how diverse, yet inter-connected the issues surrounding HIV can be. HIV is not simply a disease, and managing it cannot be done by numbers, no matter how advanced the sciences have become. Our goal is to place HIV in the context of the individual, and in a way that is balanced, clear and complete. Because, in the end, that's what this site is about. Providing you what you need to make informed choices-whether you are living with HIV, concerned about your status, or caring for someone affected by HIV."

Desert AIDS Project was selected as one of only a small handful of HIV/AIDS charities that met a set of standards including spending at least 75% of their cash budget on bona fide programs, raising $100 from every $15 spent fundraising, and operating with complete financial transparency.

"While we are immensely proud to be recognized in this way, we know that it really does take a global village, with each community in each country fighting the continuing spread of HIV while caring and advocating for those who are already infected," Brinkman continued. "Our collective community gratitude goes out to the volunteers who started it all on August 22, 1984. The spirit of those volunteer warriors against AIDS lives on at D.A.P. today and we shall continue to honor their commitment every day we serve this community." (jl)

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DAPCAN's summer schedule; new features and volunteers coming in fall

Remember that DAPCAN is publishing bi-weekly during July and August while your editors take a little time off. We will resume our regular weekly editions every Thursday after Labor Day with several additions, new features, some fresh writers and a very welcome new volunteer editor--longtime friend and D.A.P. client, Eric Janke. (rv) (sb)

Community Center Events

Desert AIDS Project's Community Center, houses many activities and programs including arts and crafts workshops, bingo, movies, lending library and drop-in hours. The 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 for details about next week's featured events listed below. If you would like to attend any of them, 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)

MOVIE & PIZZA!

First &Third Friday of Every Month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

HAIRCUTS BY ROBERT!

Sign up outside the Walgreen's room in the Community Center. Twelve slots are available. First come first served. NO appointments or reservations taken by phone ahead of time. Please show up with clean hair.

SNIP SNIP!

Ongoing Community Center activities:

Support groups
Hepatitis C therapy education
Diabetes education
Stitch in Time (needlecraft) - third Wednesday 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, activities and drop-in hours.

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HIV/AIDS & Other News

FDA approves HIV drug Tivicay (Dolutegravir)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ViiV Healthcare's Tivicay (dolutegravir), a new drug to treat HIV infection. Tivicay is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor that interferes with one of the enzymes necessary for HIV to multiply. It is a pill taken daily in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Tivicay is approved for use in a broad population of HIV-infected patients. It can be used to treat HIV-infected adults who have never taken HIV therapy (treatment-naïve) and HIV-infected adults who have previously taken HIV therapy (treatment-experienced), including those who have been treated with other integrase strand transfer inhibitors. Tivicay is also approved for children ages 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kilograms (kg) who are treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced but have not previously taken other integrase strand transfer inhibitors. ViiV Healthcare is a joint effort of GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, established in 2009 to pursue advancements in HIV care. You can read more here and here.

Here are some other articles about Tivicay that you might also find interesting:

Dolutegravir approval signals a beginning and the end of something very special

Tivicay benefits over other medications? (jl)

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Exercise can improve mental health for people living with HIV

Regular exercise is not only good for physical health, but can give people living with HIV a significant mental boost. This is according to a study by Dr. David J. Moore and colleagues at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), published in Springer's Journal of NeuroVirology. The study found that HIV-infected adults who exercise suffered significantly less neurocognitive impairment compared to patients who do not exercise. The major benefit of exercise to the brain seems to be the reduction of neurocognitive risk factors, such as high blood pressure and abnormally high levels of lipids in the blood. Metabolic syndrome associated with the use of antiretroviral treatment is also linked to an increase in cerebrovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. You can read more here. (jl)

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Federal court finds condoms in porn requirement constitutional

The porn industry suffered a defeat recently when a federal judge rejected its contention that requiring adult film performers to wear condoms is unconstitutional. The ruling involved implementation of the Los Angeles County Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act, or Measure B, passed by voters in November. AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein called the judge's ruling "a tremendous, tremendous victory, one that will go a long way to safeguard the health and safety of those adult performers working in the industry. You can read more here. (jl)

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Treatment and viral load: What's their effect on HIV transmission?

Antiretroviral treatment can reduce the viral load in the blood and other bodily fluids to undetectable levels and research shows this can decrease the risk of HIV transmission. This knowledge has generated interest among people living with HIV and their partners in the use of treatment as an HIV prevention strategy. But how much can treatment reduce the risk of HIV transmission and what is the transmission risk when the viral load is undetectable? This article explores what we know and don't know about these questions and provides key messages for both people living with HIV, and their partners. You can read more here. (jl)

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Facebook makes us sadder and less satisfied

A new University of Michigan study on college-aged adults finds that the more they used Facebook, the worse they felt. The study, found Facebook use led to declines in moment-to-moment happiness and overall life satisfaction. The study authors suspect it may have to do with social comparison. The good news is, if you're feeling bummed, researchers did test for and find a solution. The prescription for Facebook despair is less Facebook. Researchers found that face-to-face or phone interaction - those outmoded, analog ways of communication - had the opposite effect. Direct interactions with other human beings led people to feel better. Read more here and here. (jl)

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Why the Affordable Care Act is important for HIV-Positive women

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama in 2010. Many of the health care and health insurance changes the ACA calls for are particularly important for women living with HIV. Some of the changes have already gone into effect, while others are scheduled to begin later in 2013 and in 2014. You can read more here. (jl)

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Legal Issues

For better or worse? Be careful what you ask for.

By Andrew Alder, Attorney at Law

Marriage equality is once again the law of the land in California. But now that LGBT Californians can marry, the question that must be asked is; "Should they?" Anyone contemplating marriage, and particularly clients of D.A.P. who receive any manner of public benefit, be it drugs through ADAP or medical care through Medi-Cal, needs to consider carefully the benefits AND the detriments that are inherent in the state of matrimony. Consider a simple case, a D.A.P. client who receives HIV drugs through ADAP. This program, like many others, has certain guidelines to which a potential recipient must adhere in order to receive benefits, one of which is that his/her Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), as reported on the federal tax return, cannot exceed $50,000. For a single applicant, calculation of the AGI is a relatively straight-forward matter, and one either income-qualifies for ADAP or one does not. However, for those California citizens who are ADAP applicants who are married, or who are considering getting married, this calculation is more complicated. Why? California is a community property state, meaning that the law in this state presumes that any asset accrued from the date of the marriage forward by each partner to a valid marriage is, presumptively, community property; that is, each party has a claim on that asset. In California then, income received as wages by one party to a California marriage does not fully belong to that worker; one-half of those wages can be claimed by the other spouse. For example, if Tom and Andrew are married and live in California and Tom's annual salary is $50,000 and Andrew's annual salary is $30,000, the entire $80,000 earned jointly is community property, attributable one-half to Tom and one-half to Andrew. Tom would report on his individual tax return an AGI for $40,000 and Andrew would also report $40,000 as AGI on his individual return. But Andrew would still quality for the ADAP program because his individually-reported AGI was less than the $50,000 maximum allowable under ADAP guidelines. If, however, Tom earned $100,000 and Andrew's salary remained at $30,000, the $130,000 earned jointly would be considered community property, with one-half thereof, or $65,000, reportable as AGI on each man's tax return, rendering Andrew ineligible for ADAP benefits. This admittedly simple example's undesired result may be avoided were Tom and Andrew to enter into a written agreement prior to marriage, a prenuptial contract, which would preclude application of the legal presumptions referred to above. But any "pre-nup" needs to be well-thought-out and well-drafted by a knowledgeable attorney in order to be effective. In short, if one currently receives ANY form of public benefit, or is contemplating making application for ANY form of public benefit AND one is also married, in a California registered domestic partnership or considering entering into a California marriage or registered domestic partnership, one should most definitely first seek the advice of experienced legal counsel. Love may well be blind... Don't you be.

Andrew Vincent Alder is a Palm Springs attorney, having practiced in California for over 32 years. He may be reached at andrewvincentalder@gmail.com or at 760.424.9866.

Additional resources:
The LGBT Center in Palm Springs was one of the community partners sponsoring "What's Next?" an event that explored the legal and personal questions that may be on people's minds after the rulings that effectively invalidated Proposition 8 in California and struck down a key piece of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. You can read more about the "What's Next" seminar here.

You can also read more about the effects of the DOMA ruling on the Human Rights Campaign website. (jl)

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Quote of the Week

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Ongoing Benefits, Resources & Information

Positively Aware's online HIV drug guide

Check here anytime for the latest information about your antivirals: dosages, side-effects, interactions, classification, etc., courtesy of Positively Aware. (sb)

Dedicated phone line for RCHC HIV patient medications

The Warm Line, also known as 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. The number below enables patients to reach a special pharmacist to ensure they receive the medications needed. Call: 951.486.4442, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays. And allow two business days before picking up meds at RCRMC Pharmacy in Moreno Valley, and seven business days if mailed to a patient's home. Voice mails are generally returned within one business day. (rv) (sb)

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Help with Medicare
medcare7

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.

Centers for Disease Control's HIV website

cdchiv The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a website dedicated to HIV/AIDS issues. It covers the latest HIV science and public health information, as well as educational materials, policies and guidelines. 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 for the website. (jl) (sb)

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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)

Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)

CAADAP 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. You should also follow up by phone after your application to ensure all paperwork was received and is complete and do so each year after your annual eligibility meeting with ADAP. The agency still relies on paper faxes which have been known to go astray often.

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)

D.A.P. contact information

The local phone number of Desert AIDS Project is 760.323.2118, wirelesssignal

the toll-free number is 866.331.3344 and the website is www.desertaidsproject.org.

D.A.P. holiday closings for remainder of year

Monday, September 2 - Labor Day

Monday, October 14 - Columbus Day

Monday, November 11 - Veterans' Day

Thursday-Friday, November 28-29 - Thanksgiving

Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day

Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County

2-1-1 is a toll-free service for residents needing 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)

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