April | 2020
 In this edition of the newsletter, you will find a note from DHSP Director Katie Macomber, an update on our "Ending the HIV Epidemic" initiative, an update on the annual State of Michigan HIV/STD Conference, and more! If you have any questions or feedback about the newsletter, please reach out to Nida Qureshi at:
QureshiN@Michigan.gov
Dear All,
First of all I want to send my wishes to you that you and your family are safe and healthy—if you or someone you care about has been affected by this epidemic either physically or financially, know that the thoughts of your DHSP family are with you during this time.
While I would never wish this event on any of us again, it has given me the opportunity to see how, when things need to change, people who work in HIV/STD can pivot on a dime and do their best to assure services to the people we serve. As a peer to all of you during this crisis, that has been nothing less than inspirational and amazing. I have been incredibly inspired by all that you have been doing, from our local partners, to our clinical partners, and of course the local health departments.
Here are some things that DHSP has been doing to address the needs of our community during this time:
- Extended ADAP coverage for people with spring renewals into summer (see more details below!)
- Pre-payed IAP payments for several months
- Exploring a free condom mailing program
- Providing TA to local health departments and MDHHS staff to do partner services remotely
- Assessing the number of PLWH who have COVID-19 and tracking data on how our viral load testing and HIV testing in EvalWeb is changing
- Seeking approval for EPT for MSM with gonorrhea and trich
- Sending out alternative oral treatments for syphilis and gonorrhea
- Keeping COVID resources up to date on our website
- Modifying our existing and upcoming trainings due to the stay at home order
I have learned that self-care is important during this time and have found this to be a good resource: https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Infectious-Diseases/Coronavirus/Self-Care-During-the-Coronavirus-Pandemic. There is also a SAMSHA Disaster Distress Helpline which can be helpful during this time: 1-800-985-5990. It provides immediate 24/7 counseling.
Best Wishes,
Katie Macomber, Director
Division if HIV and STD Programs
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
In response to the increased measures the CDC and HRSA put in place to protect vulnerable populations and assure social distancing, the Michigan Drug Assistance Program (MiDAP) instituted several procedures for clients to avoid the risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
Letters were sent to 3,300 clients informing them of the proactive steps MIDAP was taking to ensure all clients have an adequate supply and continued access to all medications on the MIDAP formulary. This included early refills, receiving up to a 90-day supply through either their retail or mail order pharmacy and also offering home delivery options. In order to further protect some of our most vulnerable population, MIDAP also extended coverage for approximately 1,300 clients that had any type of application due during the months of March, April and May to June 14th.
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We feel that it is extremely important during this public health crisis to continue to support our communities in protecting themselves against unintended pregnancy, STIs, and HIV. Many people are currently unable to access condoms due to financial stress and the closing of local health centers that would normally distribute condoms to them. In response to this, the Division of HIV and STD Programs has developed a mail order condom distribution program for Michigan residents. This program will send condoms and lube through the mail to Michigan residents at no cost at all. In order to get condoms delivered, a person must send an email with their name and mailing address to MDHHS-FreeCondoms@Michigan.gov.
We are asking that you help us spread the word about this program. Please inform your staff and clients about the program and how to go about ordering condoms. We are also asking that you please post about the program on your organization’s social media channels. We have developed some graphics and content for you to use. If you would like to request the graphics and social media content to post on your organization’s social media channels, please email MDHHS-FreeCondoms@Michigan.gov.
 MDHHS, Public Sector Consultants (PSC), and the EtE community work group have been planning and conducting focus groups aimed at gathering feedback about services provided and suggestions for improved services within Wayne County and the city of Detroit. These focus groups were carried out from January through March 2020. Twelve of the focus groups provided insight from community members belonging to demographics that are disproportionately affected by HIV. MDHHS, Detroit Health Department, and PSC also conducted four provider focus groups that included medical providers and service providers, such as case managers, transportation providers, and nutrition service providers. After all the focus group data is compiled a draft plan will be developed and brought to the community work group and Michigan’s Jurisdictional Planning bodies to strengthen/finalize the plan.
The Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) public health initiative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and conducted by HIV Surveillance staff at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of HIV and STD Programs- Special Studies Unit. MMP is a locally and nationally representative sample survey that assesses the clinical and behavioral characteristics of adults in Michigan and the U.S., regardless of HIV care status. MMP can be used to help improve the quality of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Our upcoming 2020 data collection cycle will begin June 1st with a sample of 400 individuals living with HIV having an opportunity to participate in a 1-hour, administered survey with MMP staff and receive a $50 gift card.
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The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) program is a CDC funded project conducted by (MDHHS) Division of HIV and STD Programs- Special Studies Unit that monitors behaviors and access to HIV prevention services among three identified risk groups at a national and local level. Data collection is implemented in three annual cycles with each cycle focusing on one risk group, i.e., men who have sex with men (MSM), persons who inject drugs (PWID) and heterosexuals at increased risk for HIV (HET). This project collects data anonymously from people based on behavioral characteristics and not their HIV status. Our upcoming data collection cycle (2020) is to survey and conduct HIV testing for 500 men who have sex with men in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties that visit MSM venues in metro Detroit.
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The DHSP has been hard at work updating our perinatal HIV, Syphilis, and Hep B testing guidelines. Our guidelines now reflect the changes in Michigan testing laws made in December 2018 and our recommendations align with those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We encourage all clinicians to check out the updated guidelines located on our website here.
We have also developed quick reference perinatal and infant infection screening flow charts for clinicians. These flow charts are a resource for clinicians to quickly reference when a patient is pregnant and needs to be screened for HIV, Syphilis, and Hep B. The charts can be found on our website here.
We encourage all those involved with perinatal HIV, Syphilis, and Hep B prevention and treatment to check these resources out. The flow charts and guidelines will be available to order physical copies within the next couple of months. If you would like to request physical copies of the flow charts and guidelines, please send an email to:
MDHHS-DHSPSupplies@Michigan.gov
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Five employees from our program recently traveled to Kalamazoo to give a helping hand to a partner that provides testing for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
The employees assisted Community AIDS Resource and Education Services of Southwest Michigan (CARES) at the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference, where CARES provided testing for HIV, oral and genital gonorrhea, chlamydia and other diseases. Western Michigan University hosted the conference.
Education regarding the importance of regular testing was provided to all, and those who live or attend school in Michigan were offered testing. Seventy-nine specimens were collected that day, and the collaborative relationship between MDHHS and our community partners was strengthened…making it well worth the trip.
The employees were Malasha Duncan, Kimberlye Montgomery-Coit, Ceata Bell, Dawn Donald and Cyntoria Gary. They are pictured above. Thanks for helping to provide hope to residents of that part of Michigan!
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 The Annual HIV and STD Conference theme this year is 2020 Vision: Addressing Barriers to Better Health. The conference is currently planned for August 18-19, 2020 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, MI. Since this conference is four months away, we are still proceeding as planned. We are continuing to monitor the situation of COVID-19 and we will share DHSP’s plan for the conference as it evolves. We want to reassure you that the health and safety of our conference participants is a priority.
 The Clinical Nursing Conference for HIV and STD Care and Prevention was planned for June 3 & 4, 2020. Due to COVID-19 we have rescheduled the nursing conference for October 14th-15th.
Thank you for reading our newsletter!
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