Further, the Governor announced that the State has made great strides toward his goal to End AIDS by 2020. No new cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV have been reported since August of 2014, the first time there have been no new cases over a twelve-month period since the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic.

Additionally, New York State has been recognized as a national leader in the effort to increase availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) a medication that helps HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of becoming infected. Since June 2014, there has been over a 300 percent increase in PrEP use among Medicaid enrollees.

"Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York continues to take bold and aggressive strides toward ending the AIDS epidemic and stopping the spread of HIV, while also looking out for those already infected," said Commissioner of Health Dr. Howard Zucker. Taken together these policies and initiatives ensure that New Yorkers with HIV and those at risk for it receive the support and care they need."

To date, more than 202,000 New Yorkers have been diagnosed with AIDS, and more than 112,000 individuals in the State are currently living with diagnosed HIV/AIDS. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo's "Ending the Epidemic Task Force" delivered its final blueprint for fulfilling the goal of ending the epidemic by 2020. Since that time, major steps were taken to implement the plan's three main pillars of: (1) expanding HIV testing, (2) ensuring that everyone with HIV can get treatment, and (3) increasing the availability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication that helps HIV-negative individuals reduce their risk of becoming infected.

This includes: significantly increasing the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), enhanced efforts to increase viral suppression rates among state prison inmates, and identification of thousands of HIV-infected Medicaid recipients in need of support to achieve viral suppression.

Local ASOs Sing Praises

Sharen Duke, Executive Director of ASCNYC, was thrilled to learn about Cuomo's announcement that he will seek $200M in state funding to support housing and healthcare programs for people with HIV and AIDS.
�
"ASCNYC is thrilled that Governor Cuomo has announced that he will advocate for $200 million in additional funding to support housing and healthcare programs for people living with HIV and AIDS in New York State," said Duke. "As ASCNYC and millions of New Yorkers observe another World AIDS Day, this tremendous show of support by Governor Cuomo gives us hope for an end to new cases of HIV infection and better treatment and care for those who are living with HIV. This funding will greatly increase the likelihood of reaching our goal of Ending the Epidemic by 2020."
�
The funding and resources that Governor Cuomo has committed will help organizations like ASCNYC prevent new infections, connect HIV positive individuals to quality medical care and provide stable, supportive housing for those in need. As an organization that serves thousands of New Yorkers every year, helping them create positive change in their lives by overcoming homelessness, substance abuse, accessing healthcare and confronting so many other challenges people living with HIV face, ASCNYC is proud to stand beside Governor Cuomo and double our efforts to improve the lives of people with living with HIV.

Benjamin Bashein, Executive Director of ACRI, applauded Gov. Cuomo's pioneering and unparalleled leadership in the fight against AIDS.�

"With the news today that he will seek $200M to fund the state's Ending the Epidemic efforts, the Governor has demonstrated that he truly understands both what it will take to accomplish this task and its importance to all New Yorkers.�We are especially grateful for Governor Cuomo's recognition of the unique needs of the fast growing population of older adults living with HIV," said Bashein. "Today, half of all HIV-positive New Yorkers are age 50-plus, and by 2020 that number will grow to 70 percent.� We cannot hope to truly end the epidemic without addressing the needs of these most vulnerable New Yorkers, and today's announcement places us squarely on that path."

"Governor Cuomo's request for an additional $200 million in state funding to support housing and health care for people living with HIV and AIDS represents a bold step forward in the plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020," said Glennda Testone, The Center's Executive Director. "The Center has been committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic since its inception, and we applaud the Governor's commitment to ensuring we take care of people living with the disease while working to end it."

Significant Accomplishments Include"

New York State significantly reduces Mother-to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS: Over the last 12 months, for the first time since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began, New York State had zero reports of HIV/AIDS infections passed from mother to child. While this data is preliminary, it reflects extremely high rates of viral suppression among HIV-infected women of child-bearing age. It also demonstrates the quality of New York's newborn screening program, which ensures an aggressive stance toward testing pregnant women and that all HIV exposed infants are identified and treated prophylactically as appropriate.

New York State significantly reduces estimates of New Yorkers living with HIV: New technology and an improved methodology have allowed the state to develop a more accurate depiction of New Yorkers living with HIV. Updated surveillance systems and effective use of field investigators actively looking for people who appear to have fallen out of care have resulted in a decrease of approximately 20,000 persons included in the state's Cascade of Care. The new cascade model assigns cases based on an analysis of recent addresses and patterns of accessing care.

National recognition of New York State's uptake in PrEP: New York State is being recognized nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its work facilitating access to PrEP, point three in Governor Cuomo's three point plan to end the HIV epidemic. There was a greater than three-fold increase in PrEP use among Medicaid recipients in 2015. On Dec. 1 -- World AIDS Day -- State Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker will present the findings during a national teleconference hosted by the CDC.

Next steps in support of ending the epidemic include:
NYS Increases Commitment to Helping Individuals with HIV/AIDS: Obtain Affordable Housing/Housing Assistance Access to affordable, safe and stable housing was a key recommendation of the ETE Blueprint developed by the Task Force. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York has expanded supportive housing which directly benefits individuals with HIV/AIDS and, in the next fiscal year, will be further expanding affordable housing and providing housing assistance for those living with HIV. Recommendations include key interventions that effectively address complex and intersecting health and social conditions and reduce health disparities, particularly among New York's low-income and most vulnerable and marginalized residents. These interventions seek to diminish barriers to care and enhance access to care and treatment leaving no sub-population behind. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York State has prioritized housing and continues to work with the City of New York to provide access to affordable housing.

NYS Approves Life Insurance Product for Persons Living with HIV:
Both permanent and term life insurance will now be available to individuals living with HIV, between the ages of 30 and 60, provided there is sufficient insurable interest and an individual meets specific underwriting criteria. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has approved the life insurance product to be sold effective December 1. The availability of life insurance for persons living with HIV is responsive to historic stigma against persons living with HIV and is reflective of advances in care that make an average life span a reality for many New Yorkers living with HIV.

NYS Launches Medicaid Managed Care Program to Promote Patient Linkage and Retention in Care:
A new pilot program with Medicaid Managed Care plans will help bring 6,000 HIV positive patients into care and provide support to achieve viral suppression. To support the pilot, $500,000 is being awarded to five plans to develop or strengthen systems to locate and engage individuals whose current health status is in question. In 2016, the data sharing and case finding will be expanded to include all Medicaid Managed Care Plans.

NYS Provides Additional Funding to NYC "One-Stop" STD Clinics to Enhance Services:
New York State is providing an additional $1 million in funding to New York City clinics that provide diagnoses and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The funding will be used to employ a 'One-Stop STD Clinic' model, which provides immediate access to PrEP and anti-retrovirals for newly diagnosed HIV-positive persons. This model provides access to targeted prevention, access to medical care including HIV and STD screening and treatment, bio-medical (PrEP) and behavioral prevention services.

NYS Provides Support for HIV-positive inmates in New York State correctional facilities:
For the first time, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) are working together to identify all HIV-positive inmates in state prison who appear to be out of care. This public health initiative will encourage all HIV-infected inmates to achieve viral suppression, which improves their own long term health prospects and makes it less likely they can transmit the disease to others. These efforts also decrease the long term costs to the State.

NYS Intensifies actions to ensure compliance with the HIV testing law:
New York State has reviewed all hospitals operating in the State for compliance with the routine HIV testing offer as mandated by state law. The review, which was completed this year, found that many hospitals did not have adequate policies and procedures. Today, 100 percent of hospitals have policies and procedures. Further, the State is reviewing thousands of patient admission records across hospital emergency departments to ensure compliance with the mandatory offer of HIV testing to individuals ages 13-64.

NYS engages New Yorkers in ending the epidemic through statewide regional forums:
Over a three-month period, more than 800 New Yorkers have participated in state sponsored regional discussions on local efforts for ending the AIDS epidemic. Local leaders and elected officials are paving the way to implement key strategies through the initiation of regionally based task forces, public education initiatives, and the establishment of community-based networks to develop local action plans.

2015 Launch of the NYS ETE Dashboard:
New York State launched an ETE Dashboard system -- a public website to broadly disseminate information on the progress of New York's groundbreaking initiative to end the AIDS epidemic. The Dashboard system displays the latest information about New York State's AIDS epidemic including information on, HIV incidence and prevalence, as well as HIV prevention, testing, and care. Funded by DOH, the ETE Dashboard was designed and is maintained by Hunter College and the School of Public Health of the City University of New York, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

World AIDS Day:
In observance of World AIDS Day this year, Governor Cuomo will appear at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. at a community event hosted by End AIDS coalition. Further, DOH will honor individuals from throughout the state for their commitment, contribution and response to improve and promote the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. To honor those who have passed and show support for those living with HIV/AIDS, New Yorkers of all ages are invited to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on December 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sections of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display and education sessions are open to the public. The DOH World AIDS Day event promotes education and awareness. Education is key to reducing related stigma and discrimination and achieving the end of the epidemic in our state by the end of 2020.