Positively Aware

02/02/2026

The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) has made Americans less safe, further damaged diplomatic relationships that the country relies on and will ultimately make us less healthy, writes AVAC executive director Mitchell Warren in a First Person op-ed.

On January 22, 2026, the United States took another giant step away from its role as a global leader, betraying American citizens and the rest of the world by withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 1948, WHO has been the United Nations agency tasked with directing global publi...

01/30/2026

“When the program changes without clear guidance, it doesn’t just hit clients. Clinics and case managers lose time scrambling, and that’s time taken from patient care,” says Florida HIV advocate Kevin Maloney about the uncertainty over changes coming to the state’s ADAP.
www.positivelyaware.com/uncertainty-over-florida-adap

01/27/2026

After months of efforts by HIV advocates and talks with drug manufacturer Gilead Sciences, one of the largest pharmacy benefits managers in the U.S., CVS Health’s Caremark, has agreed to cover Yeztugo, the six-month long-acting injectable medication for HIV prevention (PrEP).
www.positivelyaware.com/cvs-says-yes

01/20/2026

Starting March 1, the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) will cap eligibility for HIV meds at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)—a substantial drop from the current 400% of FPL. This could mean as many as 16,000 people with HIV will no longer qualify. In addition, the state is dropping Biktarvy—the most prescribed HIV medication—from its formulary and restrict Descovy to people with renal insufficiency. Officials have not stated a plan for transitioning people on Biktarvy for their HIV treatment to generic drugs, nor which generics will be used.

positivelyaware.com/florida-guts-adap

01/19/2026

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., warned us that silence in the face of injustice is a choice. Attacks on ADAP, barriers to PrEP access and ongoing inequities in HIV care fall hardest on Black communities, LGBTQ+ people and people with the least political power. The fight against HIV is inseparable from the fight for civil rights—ending stigma, expanding access to care and ensuring that people with HIV are treated with humanity.

01/17/2026

01/15/2026

A day after SAMHSA had sent termination letters on 2,000 grants for mental health and substance use services totaling $1.9 billion, the cuts have been rescinded. From Roll Call:

“...an administration official confirmed late Wednesday that the grants are now being restored.”

“My understanding is that there has been an intervention at the White House,” Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations ranking member Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. “It might be a one-day issue.”

Many of the affected grant programs had bipartisan support and President Donald Trump has supported them in the past.

01/10/2026

New Orleans has long held a distinction no city should be comfortable holding: It’s consistently near the top nationally for new and existing HIV diagnoses: “HIV is not a fringe issue here,” writes advocate Morris A. Singletary in a commentary for PA. “It is a defining public health challenge.”

12/26/2025

PA wants to hear from you: What’s one thing that living with HIV has taught you that you’d want someone to know?

Post your answer here. Select responses to appear in the next issue.

12/23/2025

Results from a phase 2 clinical trial evaluating once-weekly oral islatravir plus lenacapavir (ISL+LEN) show the combo to be statistically comparable to the popular once-daily pill Biktarvy through 48 weeks in people with HIV who are virally suppressed.
www.positivelyaware.com/ISL-LEN-phase-2

12/22/2025

Have you ever wanted to get PrEP but encountered resistance from your care provider, or had your HIV prevention medication rejected by insurance? PA is doing a story and wants to hear about your experience.