Key Issues
Mission Statement: to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.
HIV
Promote necessary funding, programs, and policies to end the HIV epidemic in the United States
Funding
Ensure there is necessary federal funding for domestic HIV programs including Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, CDC HIV Prevention (including School and Adolescent Health), NIH AIDS Research, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA), Minority AIDS Initiative, sexual education and other programs included in the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative such as Community Health Centers and the Indian Health Service.
Programs and Policies
Ensure that federal HIV programs and policies support the needs of people living with and at risk of HIV and are administered and delivered free of discrimination and stigma, fully engage relevant communities, and meet the needs of state and local communities, and allow them to best meet the goals of ending the HIV initiative, including increased HIV prevention, HIV screening, and linkage to care and treatment in order to achieve sustainable viral suppression. Ensure that funding is distributed equitably and used efficiently in order to maximally impact positive health outcomes.
Viral Hepatitis
Promote necessary funding, programs, and policies to end viral hepatitis in the United States
Funding
Ensure there is necessary federal funding for domestic viral hepatitis programs including CDC Hepatitis Prevention and others necessary to end hepatitis B and C in the United States, including those related to infectious diseases associated with the opioid epidemic.
Programs and Policies
Ensure that federal viral hepatitis programs and policies support the needs of people living with and at risk of hepatitis and are administered and delivered free of discrimination and stigma, fully engage relevant communities and meet the needs of state and local communities, and allow them to best meet the goals of ending hepatitis by increased hepatitis prevention, hepatitis screening, and linkage to care and treatment, including curative treatments. Ensure that funding is distributed equitably and used efficiently in order to maximally impact positive health outcomes.
Healthcare Access
Promote programs and policies that provide healthcare to people with HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic conditions
Programs
Ensure that people with and at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions have access to comprehensive, quality, and affordable healthcare that includes preventive services, including private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and other forms of health coverage.
Policies
Ensure that healthcare programs are patient-focused so that people can receive the quality care and treatment prescribed by their provider at a cost they can afford.
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