ABOUT THE AIDS INSTITUTE
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

The AIDS Institute, a center within the New York State Department of Health, was created in 1983 by legislative mandate as the central agency for coordinating New York State's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Institute plans, funds, and evaluates HIV prevention and health care programs; educates the public; trains health care providers and counselors; and develops policy.

The Institute administers federal and state money for HIV/AIDS clinical care, counseling and testing, and public and professional education through two complementary funding mechanisms: enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates and a wide variety of grants.

The enhanced Medicaid rates cover the increased cost of primary, acute, long-term, foster, and home care for adults and children with HIV infection or AIDS. Grants fill service gaps, support care for uninsured persons, and encourage the development of new programs. They are available to health care facilities, community-based organizations, and educational institutions to fund prevention programs, HIV counseling and testing, clinical education, HIV primary care and medications, development of adult day care and chronic care programs, supportive housing for persons with TB/HIV, and many other activities.

MAJOR INITIATIVES

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Institute develops and supports a broad range of programs to train health professionals, HIV counselors, and others who work with people infected with HIV. It develops curricula and instructional materials, presents conferences and counselor training sessions, and distributes clinical guidelines and protocols.

To address the acute shortage of health care professionals in HIV care, the Institute has implemented the HIV Clinical Scholars Program. The program supports the training of eligible physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners at Designated AIDS Centers. Clinical scholars gain expertise in HIV care by working with a clinical mentor and through practice in a variety of hospital and community settings.

The Clinical Education Initiative funded through the AIDS Institute provides grants to hospitals and community health centers statewide for the development of provider education opportunities and for the presentation of conferences and seminar series.

COUNSELING AND TESTING
The Institute makes every effort to concentrate programs in high HIV seroprevalence areas and to integrate HIV counseling and testing with other services. Confidential counseling and testing, with partner notification and referrals to medical and social services, are available at community health centers, substance use programs, county health departments, sexually transmitted disease/tuberculosis clinics, hospitals and from private physicians.

Anonymous HIV counseling and testing services are available at almost seventy sites statewide, such as community organizations, drug treatment programs, and housing projects, and via a mobile van throughout New York City.

The Institute's Obstetrical Initiative provides counseling and voluntary testing to women who have received little or no prenatal care, and facilitates access to a range of services, including drug treatment and social services for women with HIV infection and their children.

Through the Criminal Justice Initiative, the Institute has established training programs for prison staff and inmates, along with counseling and testing.

HOSPITAL-BASED SERVICES
Designated AIDS Centers (DACs) are hospitals with comprehensive AIDS services and formal links to community organizations. In 1991, AIDS Centers accounted for 53% of all HIV-related hospital discharges in New York State. Currently, there are twenty-four DACs with three more pending final designation.

Pediatric/Maternal Centers offer multi-disciplinary, family-focused care to address the full range of medical and social needs of families. Twenty-one Pediatric/Maternal Centers currently exist, and grants have been awarded for four additional Centers.

AIDS DRUG ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ADAP)
Since 1987, the federally funded ADAP has provided free HIV/AIDS medications to medically and financially eligible persons not covered by Medicaid or other insurance. More than 1,500 pharmacies participate in the program with over 50 drugs in the ADAP formulary. Over l6,000 people have enrolled in ADAP and over 7,000 individuals are currently active. ADAP Plus (HIV Primary Care Uninsured Pool) provides payment for primary care for New York State residents with HIV infection. Open to persons without insurance or Medicaid coverage, the program covers comprehensive outpatient care. Over 2,000 people are enrolled in the program.

COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
The AIDS Institute supports a broad variety of programs provided by community-based organizations and health centers for persons with HIV infection. The programs offer prevention, HIV primary care, and support services to women, gay/bisexual men, drug users, minorities, adolescents, homeless persons, and the general community.

The organizations perform outreach, risk reduction training, counseling, case management, and crisis intervention and provide referrals for medical care, housing, transportation, and nutrition. They provide medical respite and day care for children, home-delivered meals to persons with HIV/AIDS, and legal counsel.

Through the HIV Enhanced Fees for Physicians Program, private physicians receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates for HIV counseling and testing and clinical follow-up of persons with HIV. Under its Case Management (Community Follow-up) Programs, the Institute supports agencies and organizations which provide intensive, family-centered case management services to people with HIV/AIDS. These programs seek to prevent premature institutionalization by increasing access to needed medical and human services.

Ryan White Title II funding supports regional HIV Care Networks throughout the state for communities and localities to improve planning, program development, and service delivery for individuals and families affected by AIDS/HIV. The Networks include health care and support service providers, persons with HIV/AIDS and their advocacy organizations, public health providers, and non-profit medical care providers. Each HIV Network establishes a provider consortium to assess regional service needs, develop plans to address these needs, and to provide a forum for information exchange.

PLANNING AND EVALUATION
The AIDS Intervention Management System (AIMS) program was established to conduct surveillance, quality assurance, and utilization review of services provided by Designated AIDS Center hospitals. The program has expanded to include regulatory and programmatic monitoring of standards of care for people with HIV/AIDS in all health care facilities receiving enhanced Medicaid rates.

POLICY
The Institute has been a leader in discussions and development of policy for nearly every important HIV issue, including discrimination, confidentiality, immigration, and most recently, the CDC definition of AIDS, tuberculosis and HIV, and the management of health care workers with HIV infection.

 

HIV PRIMARY CARE PROTOCOLS ADVISORY GROUP
Stephen Abel, D.D.S., M.S. Adjunct Associate Professor New York Medical College Director of Dentistry Spellman Center for HIV-Related Disease St. Clare's Hospital New York, NY	Elaine Abrams, M.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Director, Family Care Center Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY
Bruce D. Agins, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine Cornell University Medical College Medical Director AIDS Institute/New York State Department of Health New York, NY	Machelle Allen, M.D. Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology New York University School of Medicine New York, NY
David Altarac, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Chief, Infectious Diseases and Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program Beth Israel Medical Center New York, NY	Maria Amodio-Groton, Pharm.D. Clinical Pharmacy Manager Infectious Diseases Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY
Kathryn Anastos, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY	Stephen Arpadi, M.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Director, Program for Children and Families St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center New York, NY
Gina Brown, M.D. Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York, NY	Susan E. Champion, M.D. Instructor in Clinical Pediatrics Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Consultant, AIDS Institute/ New York State Department of Health New York, NY
Don Des Jarlais, Ph.D. Professor of Epidemiology and Social Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Director of Research Chemical Dependency Institute Beth Israel Medical Center New York, NY	George DiFerdinando, M.D., M.P.H. Medical Director, TB Control New York State Department of Health New York, NY
Robin Ellett, M.D. Instructor of Family Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Consultant, AIDS Institute/ New York State Department of Health New York, NY	Wafaa El-Sadr, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Chief, Infectious Diseases Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY
Paula I. Fujiwara, M.D., M.P.H. Director, Epidemiology and Surveillance New York City Department of Health New York, NY	Donna Futterman, M.D. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Albert Einstein College of Medicine Medical Director, Adolescent AIDS Program Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY
Jonathan Gold, M.D. Professor of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Director, Department of Medicine Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center Bronx, NY	Marc Gourevitch, M.D. Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Social Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Medical Director, Substance Abuse Treatment Program Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY
Larry Gugino, M.D. Head, Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Children's Hospital of Buffalo Buffalo, NY	Neal G. Herman, D.D.S. Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry New York University College of Dentistry New York,NY
David Hoos, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Medical Director AIDS Institute/New York State Department of Health New York, NY	Mary Jo Hoyt, R.N., F.N.P. Nurse Practitioner St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center New York, NY
Corry Iser, R.D. HIV Nutrition Specialist Spellman Center for HIV-Related Disease St. Clare's Hospital New York, NY	Caryn Kaplan, M.S., R.D. Director, Nutrition Services God's Love We Deliver New York, NY
Jonathan Kaplan, M.D. Assistant to Director of Infectious Diseases Division of HIV/AIDS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, GA	Robert S. Klein, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Social Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Attending Physician Division of Infectious Diseases Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY
Keith Krasinski, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics New York University School of Medicine New York, NY	Joyce Leung, M.S., R.D., M.P.H. Lecturer in the Institute of Human Nutrition Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Pediatric Nutritionist Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY
Mark Milano Coordinator of Experimental Treatment Information AIDS Institute/New York State Department of Health	Howard Minkoff, M.D. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY
Janet Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Chief of Perinatology Harlem Hospital Center New York, NY	Joan A. Phelan, D.D.S. Associate Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine Chief of Dental Service Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Northport, NY
James J. Rahal, Jr., M.D. Professor of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Director of Infectious Diseases New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens Flushing, NY	Dena Rakower, M.S., R.D. HIV Nutrition Specialist Bellevue Hospital Center New York, NY
Adrienne Rogers, M.D. Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Medical Director (Acting) Incarnation Children's Center New York, NY	Zachary Rosen, M.D. Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Epidemiology, and Social Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Consultant, AIDS Institute/New York State Department of Health New York, NY
Peter Selwyn, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Public Health Associate Director, AIDS Program Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT	David Seres, M.D. Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Nutrition Support Consultant Assistant Attending Physician Beth Israel Medical Center New York, NY
Sheldon D. Stachel, D.D.S., M.Sc. Assistant Clinical Professor of Dentistry Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery Director, General Dentistry and Special Care Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center Brooklyn, NY	Ramon A. (Gabriel) Torres, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine New York Medical College Medical Director, AIDS Center St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center New York, NY
Bill Valenti, M.D. Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Founder and Director of Development Community Health Network Rochester, NY	Barbara Warren, B.S.N., M.P.H. Assistant Director, Bureau of HIV Ambulatory Care AIDS Institute/NYS Dept. of Health
Carol Weiss, M.D. Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health Cornell University Medical College New York, NY	Andrew Wiznia, M.D. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Albert Einstein College of Medicine Director, Division of Pediatric HIV Services Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center Bronx, NY
Abigail Zuger, M.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine Attending Physician Spellman Center for HIV Related Disease St. Clare's Hospital New York, NY
AIDS Institute Staff Guthrie S. Birkhead, M.D., M.P.H., Director | Bruce D. Agins, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director | Joseph Anarella, Office of Managed Care/New York State Department of Health | Alma Candelas, M.P.H., Director, Special Populations Unit | Roberta Glaros, Director, Bureau of HIV Ambulatory Care | David Hoos, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Medical Director | Margaret Palumbo, HIV Quality of Care Specialist | Jeffrey Rothman, M.S., M.B.A., Assistant Director, Bureau of HIV Ambulatory Care | Frances F. Rotunno, R.N., M.S., HIV Quality Improvement Coordinator | Diane Rudnick, Director, Substance Abuse Section | Joseph Rukeyser, Ph.D., Clinical Education Specialist | Ileene Mills Yashpeh, Administrator, Office of the Medical Director | Molino + Associates, Inc., Patricia Molino, President; Greg Panico, Managing Editor; Chris Zurawsky, Editor; David Sachs, Contributing Editor; John Vanek, Assistant Editor; Joanne Ainsworth, Copy Editor; Anne Smith, Graphic Designer

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For more information, please contact the AIDS Institute.