MISSION STATEMENT: The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute promotes quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.
Monitors policies that impact the prevention and treatment of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other health conditions in the United States.
Communicates with members of the HIV, hepatitis, and other patient group communities on key policy issues that impact their access to healthcare.
Educates policymakers and members of the media about efforts to end both HIV and hepatitis in the United States and to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for people with or at risk of serious or chronic health conditions.
Our Team
Carl Schmid has been a national policy and advocacy leader in the HIV community for over 25 years. He spent 16 years with The AIDS Institute, serving as its Deputy Executive Director. In December 2019, he formed the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, which promotes quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.
Mr. Schmid leads advocacy efforts to ensure domestic HIV and hepatitis programs are based on sound public policy and fully funded. He has expertise in healthcare financing systems, including Medicaid and Medicare, and leads efforts to ensure that the Affordable Care Act meets the needs of beneficiaries, including prescription medications.
From December 2018 to August 2021 he served as Co-Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) and Co-Chaired its Ending the HIV Epidemic Subcommittee through June 2023. He currently serves as a consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a member of the NAIC/Consumer Participation Board of Trustees, and Chair of the Leadership Advisory Council for the U.S. Business Action to End HIV.
He is a cancer survivor and living with chronic hepatitis B.
Mr. Schmid earned a B.A. in Public Affairs and an M.B.A. in International Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Herwig
Health Policy Manager
Thomas McDaniels
Government Affairs Director
Scott Palmer
Executive Assistant
Ann Lefert
Jennifer Burke
Communications Consultant
Board Members
CARL SCHMID
President
Executive Director
HIV+Hep Policy Institute
Washington, DC
ANDREW SPERLING
Vice President
Senior Director, Government Affairs
Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.
Washington, DC
REKHA RAMESH
Treasurer
Vice President, Head of Global Policy
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Foster City, CA
JUSTIN C. SMITH MS, MPH
Secretary
Director, Campaign to End AIDS
Positive Impact Health Centers
Atlanta, GA
ERIN DARLING
Associate Vice President of Federal Policy
Merck
Washington, DC
MARC MEACHEM
Director of External Affairs
ViiV Healthcare
Washington, DC
RAFAELÉ NARVÁEZ
Co-Founder
Latinos Salud
Oakland Park, FL
PAM TRAXEL
Senior Vice President
American Cancer Society
Cancer Action Network
Washington, DC
STEVEN R. YOUNG
Former Director
HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA, HHS
Yardley, PA
Funders for HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute
HIV+Hep appreciates the support of numerous funders, and recognizes those below that are our corporate members and sponsors:
Get Involved
Facebook posts by @HIV+Hep
From STAT: “The HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute filed formal complaints w/#insurance regulators in 5 states against Medica & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care which cover a combined 4.2 million people, alleging that the #insurers discriminate against people living with HIV”:
Pharmalittle: We're reading about RFK Jr. and vaccines, obesity-drug prescribing for kids, and more
bit.ly
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would have broad power as HHS secretary to strip vaccine makers' protections against lawsuits
HIV Discrimination Complaints Filed in Five States Against Insurers for Substandard Drug Coverage & High Cost-Sharing: bit.ly/3YPvYSX National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute submitted comments on the 2026 draft Letter to Issuers, faulting for failing to enforce ACA anti-discrimination protections, backtracking on adverse tiering & discriminatory plan benefit reviews, & not ensuring #copayassistance counts: bit.ly/40yytf8
Biden-Harris Administration Urged to Comply with Court Decision & Require Insurers to Count Copay Assistance: bit.ly/3O6YVVy
Cornelius did so much to advance many causes to make this world a better place, he was an extraordinary leader and will be truly be missed.
Beloved public health, LGBTQ rights advocate Cornelius Baker dies
www.washingtonblade.com
Longtime D.C. resident served as director of Whitman-Walker