IN THIS ISSUE

Examining New HIV Data for MSM, PrEP and Paying for Medicaid

Nationwide Black men comprise roughly 35 percent of new HIV infections among gay men and 46 percent of new cases among all men.  One in 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during their lifetime compared to 1 in 104 white men. New research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides some insight into why these rates are so high. As writer Rod McCullom explains, not only do Black gay and bisexual men continue to be hit hard by the disease, their lack of awareness of their positive HIV-status provides serious cause for alarm.

As legislators examine ways to cut spending, including withdrawing from the federal-state Medicaid program, new questions are emerging about the people who may get dropped from Medicaid roles. We reprint a story from Kaiser Health News examining whether Medicaid recipients will be eligible to receive subsidies to purchase private health coverage from insurance exchanges.

Today's announcement of the results of a National Institutes Of Health pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) study is a major breakthrough in HIV prevention. Linda Villarosa breaks down the latest study published this morning by the New England Journal of Medicine. Finally, be sure to read Institute's statement on the new PrEP findings.

Yours in the struggle,
Phill