Blog 4/8/25

Equitas Health Joins Hundreds of HIV Activists on Capitol Hill – Federal Funding and HHS Reorganization Top Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Equitas Health joined AIDS United for the 32^nd annual AIDS Watch, which is the country’s largest constituent-based HIV advocacy event. As a passion-driven and people-powered event, AIDS Watch is focused on building collective power to advocate for policies that increase the quality of life for people living with and affected by HIV.

The event followed a recently announced and unprecedented downsizing of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The reorganization of HHS includes eliminating 20,000 positions in the public health workforce, cutting vital HIV service lines, closing the Offices of Infectious Disease and HIV Policy, and more.

In a previous statement about the importance of AIDS Watch, Jessie Milan, Jr., J.D. (he/him), president and CEO of AIDS United, said, “Because as people living with HIV, as people who are vulnerable to HIV, as people who care about all those impacted by HIV – we have an important story because we are Americans, too. Our health, our lives, our rights matter.”

On the eve of AIDS Watch, AIDS United hosted a congressional reception in the Rayburn House Office Building, and multiple members of Congress were in attendance. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who is the first transgender member of Congress and the Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, offered opening remarks. Additional remarks were provided by others, including Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Co-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Photo: Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) delivers remarks at the congressional reception for AIDS Watch. Credit: Equitas Health

This year, more than 630 participants from 38 states held 271 meetings with congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Advocates asked legislators to protect healthcare safety net programs, including Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Advocates also called for elected officials to protect Medicaid, which is the largest public health insurance program in the country and the single largest source of coverage for people living with HIV.

Photo: A group of HIV activists on Capitol Hill. Credit: AIDS United

Along with other HIV service providers and non-profit organizations, Equitas Health remains concerned about cuts to the public health workforce, the closure of HIV service lines across HHS, and potential cuts to Mediaid and federal funding.

While on the Hill, Equitas Health interacted with over 15 congressional offices across the Ohio and Texas delegations. In doing so, advocates discussed several key policy issues, including:

• Funding HIV treatment and prevention programs, which face a $700+ million cut in FY 26,
• Protecting the Medicaid program, which covers roughly 40% of people living with HIV,
• Stabilizing the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which supports patient access initiatives,
• Supporting the federal public health workforce, which is facing cuts to 20,000 positions, and more.

Regarding the importance of federal funding and the fight against HIV/AIDS, Rhea Debussy, PhD, (she/her) director of External Affairs at Equitas Health said, “If Secretary Kennedy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services want to ‘make America healthy again,’ then we must fund Medicaid, Medicare, HIV prevention programs at the CDC, HIV treatment programs at HRSA, and infectious disease research at NIH. Fighting chronic illness requires funding America’s healthcare safety net.”

Regarding the impact of cuts to the federal public health workforce, David Ernesto Munar, (he/him) president and CEO of Equitas Health said, “These cuts are a devastating attack on trusted and effective public health programs…Weakening the federal government’s commitment to public health will cause rates of preventable and chronic conditions to soar. Costs will rise for patients and taxpayers. And people will die.”

Equitas Health remains committed to advancing care for all through public policy work in the U.S. Congress, and the agency will continue to communicate about issues related to federal funding for community health centers, Medicaid, and HIV-focused programs. We also encourage our patients and community to communicate with their members of Congress on these important issues.

 

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ABOUT EQUITAS HEALTH

Established in 1984, Equitas Health is a regional nonprofit community healthcare system. A federally-designated Community Health Center, it is one of the largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS serving healthcare organizations in the United States. With 22 offices in 13 cities, Equitas Health serves tens of thousands of patients in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia each year through patient-centered, integrated, and cutting edge services, including primary and specialized medical care, pharmacy, dentistry, mental health and recovery, HIV/STI treatment and prevention, PrEP/PEP, Ryan White/HIV case management, care navigation, advocacy, and other community health initiatives. The Equitas Health Pharmacy is an integral and essential part of the health center’s comprehensive care and business models, reinvesting 100% of profits back into the organization’s programs and services. Equitas Health operates pharmacies serving patients in Ohio and Texas. For more information, visit equitashealth.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

ABOUT AIDS Watch and AIDS United

AIDS Watch is presented by AIDS United, in partnership with the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation and the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus. AIDS Watch is the largest federal HIV advocacy event of its kind. Participants are trained in practical advocacy skills and how best to share this information with policymakers and their communities. After training, participants meet with members of Congress to share their personal stories about the impact of current policies on their community and to highlight the importance of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV. Learn more at www.aidsunited.org/aidswatch.

AIDS United is committed to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States (U.S.) through strategic grantmaking, advocacy, and capacity building. Through our pillars of strategic grantmaking, capacity building and technical assistance, policy and advocacy. AIDS United has delivered more than $160 million in direct funding and leveraged an additional $184 million to increase the capacity of communities and organizations responding to the HIV epidemic across the U.S. Our grantees and members touch communities representing more than 96 percent of today’s HIV epidemic and we have proudly supported the work of over 600 organizations across 43 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Visit www.aidsunited.org to learn more about our work.