Written and published on 24 August 2018

• CALL TO ACTION: CAN CALIFORNIA PROVIDE ART (ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY) TO HIV-POSITIVE SEX WORKERS WHO LACK HEALTH INSURANCE, SO AS TO PREVENT HIV TRANSMISSION?
• CALIFORNIA LAW REGARDING INTENTIONAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV
• MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WILL PAY FOR HIV TESTING AND TREATMENT
• HIV TRANSMISSION RATES LOOK QUITE OPTIMISTIC PROVIDED HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE USE ART

Dear Ones,

CALL TO ACTION: CAN CALIFORNIA PROVIDE ART (ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY) TO HIV-POSITIVE SEX WORKERS WHO LACK HEALTH INSURANCE, SO AS TO PREVENT HIV TRANSMISSION?

I have read some articles recently that state HIV transmission rates are quite low, especially if blood titer is low. As ART (antiretroviral therapy) keeps blood titer low, I suggest providing HIV-Positive Sex Workers with ART, even if they do not have health insurance, so as to prevent the transmission of HIV to their clients and their clients’ wives.

I ask that the State of California consider this proposal on an urgent basis.

CALIFORNIA LAW REGARDING INTENTIONAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV

I note that California has lowered the penalty for intentional transmission of HIV from a felony to a misdemeanor as of 2018 …

Link: “California lowers penalty for knowingly exposing partners to HIV,” by Alaa Elassar and Laura Diaz-Zuniga, CNN, updated 10 October 2017 … https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/07/health/california-hiv-bill-signed/index.html ..

MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WILL PAY FOR HIV TESTING AND TREATMENT

I see also that Medicaid and Medicare are covering the cost of annual HIV tests and treatment now …

Link: “HIV Screening,” at Medicare.gov … https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hiv-screening.html ..

Link: “Medicaid Coverage of HIV Testing,” in KFF: Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation …  https://www.kff.org/hivaids/state-indicator/hiv-testing/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D ..

Link: “Paying for HIV Care and Treatment,” at HIV.gov … https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/hiv-treatment/paying-for-hiv-care-and-treatment ..

… and that the Affordable Care Act has broadened cost protection for treatment of HIV and AIDS …

Link: “The Affordable Care Act and HIV / AIDS,” in HIV.gov … https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/policies-issues/the-affordable-care-act-and-hiv-aids ..

HIV TRANSMISSION RATES LOOK QUITE OPTIMISTIC PROVIDED HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE USE ART

Data on HIV transmission rates are looking quite optimistic. This article in HealthLine, for instance …

Link: “Exploring HIV Transmission Rates,” in HealthLine … https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/hiv-transmission-rates ..

… states that receptive rectal intercourse with a partner results in AIDS transmission in 138 out of 10,000 sex acts

… Receptive penile-vaginal sex has a transmission rate of 8 in 10,000 sex acts, and

— Insertive penile-vaginal sex has a transmission risk of 4 in 10,000 sex acts

And this article …

Link: “9 Myths about HIV / AIDS,” from HealthLine … https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/misconceptions-about-hiv-aids#3 ..

… states that HIV-positive women who would like to have children have a risk as low as 1% of transmitting HIV to their fetus, provided they have been on ART for a while.

… and also that HIV-positive men who are on ART and whose viral load is undetectable have nearly zero risk of transmitting HIV to offspring in the act of conception.

This article …

Link: “Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV,” in HIV.gov, 24 May 2018 … https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/20/50/preventing-mother-to-child-transmission-of-hiv ..

… states that the rate of transmission of HIV from a mother to her child are as low as 2%, provided the mom takes ART while pregnant and while giving birth, and provided the newborn has a course of newborn ART for 4-6 weeks after birth.

As the outlook regarding HIV transmission rates keeps evolving as new data are analyzed, I feel it is important to check on new research results from time to time.

In love, light and joy,
I Am of the Stars
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community health, HIV, AIDS, calls to action, California, politics,