This paper examines the salient issues raised in a November 2010 roundtable discussion of national and state experts convened by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, in partnership with the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, to discuss Medicaid policy options available under health reform to help meet the needs of adults with mental illness. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will expand the Medicaid program, offering the opportunity to improve access to care for millions of Americans with mental health disorders. States face several decisions about designing benefits, structuring service delivery and conducting outreach and enrollment for this population, which has unique health and social service needs. This report highlights key policy opportunities and challenges related to these decisions. The discussion was part of an ongoing series of Health Reform Roundtables that explore key issues related to implementing the expansion of Medicaid under health reform.

Issue Brief (.pdf)

NEWS RELEASE

National Campaign Encourages Young People to Get Tested for STDs, Including HIV

Ludacris, Vinny from The Jersey Shore, Travie McCoy, Teen Mom’s Catelynn and More Examine the “Top 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths” in Special Airing on April 26th at 8:30 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY, April 1, 2011 — The third annual GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign kicks-off National STD Awareness Month (April) with new initiatives on-air, online, on the ground at college campuses and in more than 5,000 health centers and clinics across the nation. As part of the 2011/2012 campaign, MTV will premiere a new half-hour special, “MTV’s Top 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths” on Tuesday, April 26th at 8:30 pm ET/PT with the Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino, Ludacris, Teen Mom’s Catelynn and more counting down the most common myths about sex, including STDs. Additionally, Perez Hilton, Rap visionary Talib Kweli, America’s Best Dance Crew’s Jungle Boogie, professional skateboarder Stevie Williams, Bobby Hundreds and more join “Team GYT” to reinforce STD prevention and testing as part of a healthy lifestyle.

“At CDC, we are proud to be part of a campaign that’s making a difference in the health of young people,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., PhD., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. “Because STDs often have no symptoms, using GYT resources to increase awareness, communicate about STDs, and get tested for STDs are some of the most important things that sexually active people can do now to ensure a healthy future.”

Playing off mobile and Web slang in young people’s everyday vernacular, such as “OMG” and “LOL,” GYT is an easy way for young people to talk about sexual health and getting tested for STDs. Some elements of this year’s campaign include:

• “MTV’s Top 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths” (Tuesday, April 26th at 8:30pm ET/PT on MTV) — GYT sets the record straight on many of the most common myths about STDs and other sexual health issues in a countdown show featuring artists such as Ludacris, Travie McCoy, Michael B. Jordan, and Tinsel Korey as well as talent from MTV shows, including Vinny from the “Jersey Shore,” Catelynn from “Teen Mom,” Kailyn from “Teen Mom 2,” Kevin Manno, host of the “The Seven,” “10 on Top” host Lenay Dunn, Holland Roden from “Teen Wolf” and more. Additionally, sexual health and relationship expert Dr. Logan Levkoff will weigh in on the special.
• “Team GYT” — Rap visionary Talib Kweli, celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, America’s Best Dance Crew’s Jungle Boogie, professional street skateboarder Stevie Williams, head of Thehundreds.com Bobby Hundreds, Paper Twins’ artists Nica and Edgar A. English, aspiring fashion-conscious entrepreneur Allie Bashuk, surf-loving San Franpsycho, San Francisco designer/painter/artist Ube Urban, Levi Maestro of the online show “Maestro Knows,” Buff Monster, designer Han Cholo, Jeff Staple of Staple Design, and DJ A-Trak are joining forces to carry the GYT message. “Team GYT” will appear in GYT TV spots, guest blog on ACT.MTV.com, and reinforce STD prevention and testing as part of healthy lifestyle.
• GYT on Tour — GYT partners with the “Take Action Tour” to bring the campaign to 50 cities nationwide starting April 22nd in Boston. Each city will host a concert with headliners Silverstein and Bayside, and Polar Bear Club, The Swellers, and Texas in July supporting. All proceeds from the tour, organized by Hopeless Records’ non-profit organization Sub City, will go to SEX, ETC, a program of Rutgers University. Additionally, at select locations, GYT will partner with local organizations to offer free testing to concert attendees.
• GYT PSAs — A new series of TV spots will roll out on several MTV channels encouraging viewers to GYT and drive to online and mobile resources for more information, including local testing services. To view the PSAs, head to GYTNOW.org.
• www.GYTNOW.org — The informational hub of the campaign, GYTNOW.org provides basic facts about STDs, including prevention and testing, talking tips for discussing STD testing with partners, parents and health care providers, and a testing center locator. The site also hosts an online community toolkit with promotional materials that can be customized and localized to help spread the GYT message. In this online gallery, the audience can flex their creativity and make “GYT” their own by uploading personalized GYT designs. Beyond the wide range of GYT-based content available on the site, fans can also connect to GYT via Facebook or Twitter.
• GYTNOW short code and MTV Movie Awards Sweepstakes — A mobile companion to GYTNOW.org, the GYT short code (498669) provides details about local testing locations to mobile phones by simply texting a zip code. Online, users can become eligible to win a trip for two to the 2011 MTV Movie Awards by entering their zipcode in the testing location finder at GYTNOW.org during the month of April.
• GYT Nation: An extensive on-the-ground outreach effort is taking GYT to communities across the country. GYT promotional materials, including t-shirts, posters, buttons, brochures, and stickers are being distributed to more than 5,000 health centers and organizations nationwide, including Planned Parenthood’s network of more than 800 health centers and additional public and private clinics identified by the CDC. GYT is also working with state and local health departments the National Coalition of STD Directors, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and the National Assembly of School-Based Health Centers to provide young people with information about the campaign. And, the American College Health Association (ACHA) works with GYT to distribute materials through college health centers.

“It’s been inspiring to watch our audience adopt GYT as a peer-to-peer call to action the last two years, helping to establish testing as a positive act on par with going to the gym, recycling or donating to a cause,” said Jason Rzepka, Vice President of MTV Public Affairs. “We feel privileged to sit at the nexus of public health leaders, pop culture players and America’s youth, and we’ll continue to galvanize all three to make taking control of your sexual health sexy.”

“Lack of awareness and also shame keep many young people from getting tested for STDs,” said Tina Hoff, Vice President and Director, Entertainment Media Partnerships, Kaiser Family Foundation. “GYT is about making smart and healthy decisions that are part of everyday life.”

As many as one in two sexually active young people will contract an STD by age 25 — and most won’t know it¹. GYT encourages young people to talk with health care providers and partners about getting tested for STDs. According to the CDC, approximately half of the estimated 19 million STDs occurring in the United States each year are among people 25 and younger. When left untreated, STDs can lead to an increased risk of HIV infection, infertility and cancer.

Data collected from 10 participating Planned Parenthood health affiliates — representing 24 health centers — indicate that the campaign helped drive an increase in STD tests, with a 71 percent increase in patients getting tested in April 2010 as compared to the same time in 2008, prior to the launch of the campaign. GYT partners with more than 5,000 health centers across the nation, including those run by Planned Parenthood as well as other private and public clinics identified by the CDC. This data from a small subset of participating health centers offers encouraging evidence that GYT is helping mobilize young people to get tested.

“We are proud of the young people who want to stay healthy by knowing their STD and HIV/AIDS status,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “Through GYT, we have made progress in getting young people tested, but more work needs to be done. The STD rates among young people are alarmingly high and we must continue to deliver the message that getting tested is easy, painless and key to living a healthy life.”

GYT launched in 2009 as an extension of a longstanding public information partnership between MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation. It is supported by a broad range of organizations including the CDC, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), American College Health Association (ACHA), American Social Health Association (ASHA), the National Chlamydia Coalition (NCC), and various state and local health departments, colleges and universities, and other community groups and non-profits. Gilead Sciences, Inc. provides support and resources for select elements of the campaign. CDC provided assistance to ensure scientific accuracy of GYT health information. Comprehensive informational resources — designed for web and mobile applications — provide facts and referrals to local health centers. For more information visit www.GYTNOW.org.

MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is the leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com.

The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information, research and analysis on health issues.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate more than 840 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. For more information about CDC and its programs, visit http://www.cdc.gov.

¹http://www.ashastd.org/learn/learn_STDSTIstatistics.cfm, Cates JR, Herndon NL, Schulz S L, Darroch JE. (2004). Our voices, our lives, our futures: Youth and sexually transmitted diseases. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

# # #

The Kaiser Project on Medicare’s Future is a major initiative of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Program on Medicare Policy, focused on producing timely and authoritative analysis of leading Medicare deficit reduction options and other reforms affecting people on Medicare, and on informing the debate about the future of the Medicare program. The Project is supported in part by a grant from Atlantic Philanthropies. The Kaiser Family Foundation is solely responsible for the work of the Project.

About the Kaiser Family FoundationThe Kaiser Family Foundation, a leader in health policy analysis, health journalism and communication, is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people. The Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Menlo Park, California.

About Atlantic PhilanthropiesThe Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Atlantic focuses on four critical social problems: Ageing, Children & Youth, Population Health, and Reconciliation & Human Rights. Programmes funded by Atlantic operate in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, please visit www.atlanticphilanthropies.com.

In response to mounting concern about the nation’s rising debt and deficit, and increasing apprehension about the federal budget, prominent leaders and various commissions have come forward with recommendations to strengthen the economy and bolster the nation’s fiscal health. These proposals include both tax increases and spending reductions in discretionary programs, including defense, and in mandatory programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

This document provides a brief description of the key Medicaid changes that have been recommended as part of broad-based deficit- and debt-reduction packages. The proposals come after the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 that expanded Medicaid as the foundation for new coverage and efforts to reduce the uninsured.

Brief: Comparison of Medicaid Provisions (.pdf)

Related:

Comparison of Medicare Provisions in Deficit-Reduction Proposals

Data Spotlights Examine Financial Burden of Health Care on Medicare Beneficiaries

With renewed attention to the nation’s long-term budget deficit and the national debt, proposed changes to Medicare and other federal entitlement programs could significantly affect health coverage and spending for millions of older and disabled Americans.

These three data spotlights from the Kaiser Family Foundation provide new information on out-of-pocket health care spending among the nation’s 48 million Medicare beneficiaries, as well as income and asset projections for future beneficiaries by race, ethnicity and other demographic factors.

Health Care on a Budget: The Financial Burden of Health Spending by Medicare Households

How Much “Skin in the Game” is Enough? The Financial Burden of Health Spending for People on Medicare

Projecting Income and Assets: What Might the Future Hold for the Next Generation of Medicare

The three data spotlights are products of the Foundation’s Project on Medicare’s Future, a major new initiative of its Program on Medicare Policy.

LOS ANGELES — Tonight at the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Clippers join with Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy and the Black AIDS Institute to get out information about HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma surrounding the disease. The special LOS ANGELES>AIDS game night is the second game with the Clippers organized as part of a national partnership between NBA Cares and Greater Than AIDS, a national movement to respond to AIDS in America.

“Everyday in ways large and small, individuals, communities and businesses have deciding moments about critical issues of our day. In Los Angeles, the Clippers have the ability to raise awareness and save lives like almost no other organization,” said Phill Wilson, Founder & Executive Director of the Black AIDS Institute.

As part of a locally-focused partnership with funding and support from The California HealthCare Foundation, Greater Than AIDS has teamed up with the Los Angeles Clippers to mobilize NBA fans and Los Angeles communities in response to AIDS in the United States and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. In addition to in-arena messaging and co-branded giveaways at tomorrow’s Clippers game against the Dallas Mavericks, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas will address the crowd during halftime to introduce an NBA /Greater Than AIDS public service message featuring NBA All Stars Pau Gasol, Al Horford and Russell Westbrook and WNBA player Candice Wiggins, whose father died of AIDS.

“While major advances have occurred to help HIV patients live longer lives, more work needs to be done to raise awareness about prevention and spread of the disease,” said Mark D. Smith, M.D., M.B.A., president of the California HealthCare Foundation. “We are proud to team up with Greater Than AIDS and the Los Angeles Clippers to support the Los Angeles>AIDS game night,” he said.

Staff and volunteers from two leading Los Angeles County organizations — Black AIDS Institute and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health –will be on-hand at the Staples Center to distribute custom informational materials and connect fans with local services. All materials distributed to fans at the game feature these local resources.

“The Los Angeles County Erase Doubt HIV prevention campaign strives to draw attention to the epidemic by encouraging testing among those at high-risk for HIV and by building awareness about the availability of free care and treatment for those living with HIV. Residents can go to EraseDoubt.org to find local HIV/AIDS resources,” said Mario J. Pérez, Director, Los Angeles County Office of AIDS Programs and Policy.

More than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS today — more than at any time in the 30-year history of the epidemic.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five of those who are positive does not know it.  Early diagnosis and treatment are known to improve the lives of those living with the disease.  Stigma also remains a major barrier to stemming the spread of HIV.  Los Angeles County remains disproportionately impacted, with over 62,000 people living with HIV and AIDS.

For moreinformation about the Greater Than AIDS/NBA partnership, go to: http://www.greaterthan.org/nba.

About Greater Than AIDSGreater Than AIDS is an unprecedented collaboration among a broad coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, in particular among Black Americans and other disproportionately affected groups.  Through a national media campaign and targeted community outreach, Greater Than AIDS aims to increase knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and confront the stigma surrounding the disease.  http://www.greaterthan.org

The Kaiser Family Foundation — a leader in health policy and communications — provides strategic direction and day-to-day management, as well as oversees the production of the media campaign.  The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries.  The Black AIDS Institute — a think tank exclusively focused on AIDS in Black America — provides leadership and expert guidance and directs community engagement. Greater Than AIDS is developed in support of Act Against AIDS, an effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to refocus attention on thedomestic epidemic.  Additional, financial and substantive support is provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Ford Foundation and MAC AIDS Fund, among others.

About Greater Than AIDS/NBA Cares PartnershipGreater Than AIDS and the National Basketball Association have teamed up to mobilize NBA fans and local communities in response to AIDS in the United States and reduce the stigma associated with the disease.  The partnership includes television and radio public service ads (PSAs) featuring NBA/WNBA players, including Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx), whose father, former professional baseball player Alan Wiggins, died of AIDS in 1991.  The partnership also includes targeted activations, community events, and special “Greater Than AIDS” in-arena nights to bring attention to HIV/AIDS in priority markets.  Learn more: http://www.greaterthan.org/nba

Little has changed since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. The March Health Tracking Poll finds that the public continues to report that they are confused about the law, say they don’t have enough information on how the law will affect them, and remain divided in their views of the law. Further, the stark partisan gap persists. In terms of next steps for the law, Americans like the idea of state flexibility, with the caveat that the plans they offer are of equal quality and cover just as many people, but are opposed to the idea of defunding health reform. The public is still split on repeal, with slightly more wanting to expand the law or leave it as is than wanting it repealed entirely or repealed and replaced with a Republican alternative. A majority wants to repeal the individual mandate, but support is malleable when told that the mandate will not change the existing health care arrangements of most Americans. One year into implementation, a small segment of the population believes they have already been impacted by the law either positively or negatively.

The March poll is the latest in a series designed and analyzed by the Foundation’s public opinion research team.

Findings (.pdf)

Chartpack (.pdf)

Toplines (.pdf)

This timeline traces the beginnings of health reform efforts in the United States through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Printer-friendly History of Health Reform Timeline (.pdf)

MIAMI — Tomorrow at American Airlines Arena, the Miami HEAT join the Miami-Dade County Health Department and Test Miami to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma surrounding the disease. The special MIAMI>AIDS game night is organized as part of a national partnership between NBA Cares and Greater Than AIDS, a national movement to respond to AIDS in America.

“We’re happy to help Greater Than AIDS reignite the discussion about the disease,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations. “Although we’ve made great strides in terms of prevention and treatment, much work remains to be done.”

As part of a focused partnership with funding and support from the Miami Foundation, Greater Than AIDS has teamed up with the Miami HEAT to mobilize NBA fans and Miami communities in response to AIDS in the United States and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. In addition to in-arena messaging throughout the March 25th HEAT game against the Philadelphia 76ers, an NBA/Greater Than AIDS public service message will be presented during halftime, featuring NBA All Stars Pau Gasol, Al Horford and Russell Westbrook and WNBA player Candice Wiggins, whose father died of AIDS.

“Working in partnership with Greather Than AIDS, Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade Health Department and our Miami Heat to build a greater Miami and bring the community together around HIV/AIDS is a no-brainer” says Betty Alonso, Director of Programs, The Miami Foundation. “By working together we have harnessed the energy of key community leaders and combined our resources and expertise to claim that Miami is Greater Than AIDS.”

Staff and volunteers from leading Miami organizations — the Miami-Dade County Health Department, RCP Movement, CECOSIDA, and EmpowerU — will also be on-hand at American Airlines Arena to distribute custom informational materials that connect fans with local services. All materials distributed to fans at the game feature these local resources.

“We are honored to join the Miami Heat and our local partners in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and the importance that testing and prevention play in stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS in our community,” said Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhD, Administrator of the Miami-Dade County Health Department. “The HIV/AIDS rate in Miami-Dade County has, unfortunately, always ranked among the top cities in the United States — we encourage you to know your status and to seek treatment if needed.”

“Empower U is thrilled to join the Miami Heat and Greater than AIDS in raising awareness about the importance of HIV testing and prevention to stem the spread of HIV in Miami,” said Executive Director Vanessa Mills. “Far too many individuals continue to be infected as well as die needlessly from HIV/AIDS. It is important that people know their HIV status, reduce their risk for HIV transmission, and seek treatment if they are infected. Together we can win the game against HIV/AIDS.”

“RCP Movement is excited and honored to be partnering with Greater Than AIDS and the Miami Heat. Efforts in community mobilization are needed on all levels from all sectors, and this collaborative is a major step in the right direction. This endeavor will greatly benefit the communities of South Florida and set precedence for future efforts,” said Founder and Executive Director Donovan A. Thomas.

More than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS today — more than at any time in the 30-year history of the epidemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five of those who are positive does not know it. Early diagnosis and treatment are known to improve the lives of those living with the disease. Stigma also remains a major barrier to stemming the spread of HIV. The Miami area remains disproportionately impacted, with higher than national prevalence rates in Miami.

For more information about the Greater Than AIDS/NBA partnership, go to: http://www.greaterthan.org/nba.About Greater Than AIDSGreater Than AIDS is an unprecedented collaboration among a broad coalition of public and private sector partners united in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, in particular among Black Americans and other disproportionately affected groups. Through a national media campaign and targeted community outreach, Greater Than AIDS aims to increase knowledge and understanding about HIV/AIDS and confront the stigma surrounding the disease. http://www.greaterthan.org

The Kaiser Family Foundation — a leader in health policy and communications — provides strategic direction and day-to-day management, as well as oversees the production of the media campaign. The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries. The Black AIDS Institute — a think tank exclusively focused on AIDS in Black America — provides leadership and expert guidance and directs community engagement. Greater Than AIDS is developed in support of Act Against AIDS, an effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to refocus attention on the domestic epidemic. Additional, financial and substantive support is provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Ford Foundation and MAC AIDS Fund, among others.

About Greater Than AIDS / NBA Cares PartnershipGreater Than AIDS and the National Basketball Association have teamed up to mobilize NBA fans and local communities in response to AIDS in the United States and reduce the stigma associated with the disease. The partnership includes television and radio public service ads (PSAs) featuring NBA/WNBA players, including Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx), whose father, former professional baseball player Alan Wiggins, died of AIDS in 1991. The partnership also includes targeted activations, community events, and special “Greater Than AIDS” in-arena nights to bring attention to HIV/AIDS in priority markets. Learn more: http://www.greaterthan.org/nba

HOUSTON – Tonight at the Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets join with Mayor Annise Parker, the Houston Department of Health and Human Services, the Bee Busy Learning Institute, and the Center for AIDS to get out information about HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma surrounding the disease.The special HOUSTON>AIDS game night is organized as part of a national partnership between NBA Cares and Greater Than AIDS, a national movement to respond to AIDS in America.

“Leslie Alexander and the entire Rockets organization are thrilled to be working alongside Mayor Parker and local health organizations in Houston to promote awareness and understanding of the issues related to HIV/AIDS,” said Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown. “This partnership allows us to make a real difference for the more than one million Americans who are living with HIV/AIDS today. We look forward to assisting Greater Than AIDS in its mission to increase awareness of the daily challenges faced by these individuals.”

In addition to in-arena messaging throughout tonight’s Rockets game against the Boston Celtics, Mayor Parker will address the crowd during halftime to introduce a NBA/Greater Than AIDS public service message featuring NBA All Stars Pau Gasol, Al Horford and Russell Westbrook and WNBA player Candice Wiggins, whose father died of AIDS. The Rockets are also working with Greater Than AIDS and local Houston organizations to organize a Player Appearance with a Rockets player.

City of Houston Mayor Annise Parker stated, “This work with the Houston Rockets organization marks an unprecedented collaboration between public and private partners to make Houston greater than AIDS. As Mayor, I remain committed to our goals ofincreasing opportunities for diagnosing and treating HIV, developing new effective strategies for preventing HIV, and working to get more Houstonians involved in spreading the message that we are all responsible for fighting AIDS.”

Staff and volunteers from leading Houston organizations – the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS), Bee Busy Learning Institute, and the Center for AIDS –will also be on-hand at the Toyota Center to distribute custom informational materials that connect fans with local services. All materials distributed to fans at the game feature these local resources.

“This is such an important partnership for creating a healthier Houston,” said Marlene McNeese-Ward, HDHHS’s bureau chief for HIV/STD and Viral Hepatitis Prevention.”In Houston, we estimate that there are over 3,000 persons infected with HIV who don’t know it. Being able to utilize recognizable sports figures and mainstream events such as this helps us to raise the awareness about the impact that HIV/AIDS has in our community while also working to reduce the stigma around getting informed, getting involved, and getting tested.”

More than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS today – more than at any time in the 30-year history of the epidemic.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five of those who are positive does not know it.Early diagnosis and treatment are known to improve the lives of those living with the disease.Stigma also remains a major barrier to stemming the spread of HIV. The Houston area remains disproportionately impacted, with higher than national prevalence rates in Houston.

For more information about the Greater Than AIDS/NBA partnership, go to:www.greaterthan.org/nba.

About Greater Than AIDS

Greater Than AIDS is an unprecedented collaboration among a broadcoalition of public and private sector partners united in response to theHIV/AIDS crisis in the United States, in particular among Black Americans andother disproportionately affected groups. Through a national media campaign and targetedcommunity outreach, Greater Than AIDS aims to increase knowledge andunderstanding about HIV/AIDS and confront the stigma surrounding the disease. www.greaterthan.org

The Kaiser Family Foundation – a leader in health policy andcommunications – provides strategic direction and day-to-day management, aswell as oversees the production of the media campaign. The Kaiser Family Foundation is not associated with KaiserPermanente or Kaiser Industries.The Black AIDSInstitute – a think tank exclusively focused on AIDS in Black America –provides leadership and expert guidance and directs community engagement.Greater Than AIDS is developed in support of Act Against AIDS, an effort by theU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to refocus attention onthe domestic epidemic. Additional,financial and substantive support is provided by the Elton John AIDSFoundation, Ford Foundation and MAC AIDS Fund, among others.

About Greater Than AIDS / NBA Cares Partnership

Greater ThanAIDS and the National Basketball Association have teamed up to mobilize NBAfans and local communities in response to AIDS in the United States and reducethe stigma associated with the disease. The partnership includes television andradio public service ads (PSAs) featuring NBA/WNBA players, including Pau Gasol(Los Angeles Lakers), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Russell Westbrook (OklahomaCity Thunder) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx), whose father, formerprofessional baseball player Alan Wiggins, died of AIDS in 1991.The partnership also includes targetedactivations, community events, and special “Greater Than AIDS” in-arena nightsto bring attention to HIV/AIDS in priority markets.Learn more: www.greaterthan.org/nba

###