Academy Members Visit Capitol Hill (Virtually)

Last week, the Academy hosted the Day of Action 2022, a virtual White Coat Day wherein members and credentialed providers met with Congressional policymakers to advocate for key HIV-related policy priorities. More than 50 providers, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physicians and pharmacists, took part in 30 scheduled meetings, representing 18 states across the U.S. During the virtual meetings, providers highlighted four policy interventions necessary to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030:

• Enable greater access to HIV prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Expand the HIV healthcare workforce in number and diversity
• Support adequate federal funding for ending the HIV epidemic in the areas of prevention, treatment, care, and research
• Decriminalize HIV through federal interventions while pressuring states to eliminate archaic state outmoded, stigmatizing criminalization laws

In addition to hearing about the providers’ specific challenges on the frontlines of HIV prevention, treatment and research, Members of Congress and staff were asked to support specific legislation and funding levels that addresses many issues confronting people with and at risk for HIV, as well as growing the HIV health care workforce. The full list of priority legislation can be viewed here. The Academy had not hosted a federal advocacy day for some time, so this renewed foray into direct advocacy was only the first step in what will likely be an annual event. We hope even more providers can participate next time to help elevate the voices of providers in HIV healthcare and the patients you serve.