About Beyond AIDS

Beyond AIDS Leaders Meet at White House with National AIDS Policy Director

HELP US REVERSE THE COURSE OF THE HIV EPIDEMIC THROUGH SOUND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

Beyond AIDS, Inc. and Beyond AIDS Foundation

611 Pennsylvania Ave. SE #1600
Washington
20003-4303
E-mail: beyondaids@aol.com
Web: www.beyondaids.org
Messages and Fax: (999) BEY-AIDS

BEYOND AIDS AND ITS ROLE:

Beyond AIDS is a non-partisan national organization committed to more
effective control of the national and global spread of this terrible disease. We
are unique, in focusing on improving public health policy to stop HIV as our
primary mission.

We believe that this can be achieved by effectively applying proven public health measures, such as reporting, partner notification, universal screening, and intensive work with infected persons to motivate and assist them to avoid transmission to others. All of these and other techniques have been successfully utilized for other diseases for decades, but have been underutilized for HIV up to now for political reasons.

In fact, many traditional AIDS organizations spend considerable donated resources lobbying AGAINST the very changes we believe are scientifically necessary to control HIV. Beyond AIDS looks forward to a world "beyond AIDS," in which the HIV epidemic is on a downward course and attention can be redirected to other neglected public health problems.

The organization also focuses attention on communicable disease threats for which adequate strategies have not yet been developed and funded, such as hepatitis C and bioterrorism.

Our membership organization (Beyond AIDS, Inc.), works to change laws and regulations to improve public policy on HIV, at the state, federal, and international levels. Our tax-deductible Beyond AIDS Foundation [501(c)3] is devoted to public and professional education and research, and supports our internship program.

BEYOND AIDS SUPPORTS LAWS AND PUBLIC POLICIES TO ACHIEVE
· Name-Based HIV reporting and partner notification
· Testing of all pregnant women and newborns to eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child
· Adequate Case Management and promotion of responsibility to help infected persons avoid spreading the virus to others
· Safer injection technology and improved infection control to avoid infections by accidental needle sticks or reused needles
· Eliminating barriers to routine testing in medical settings and  correctional facilities
· Encouraging improved prevention and control in Africa and around the world

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROJECTS:

Examples of State Legislative and Policy Efforts:
· Sponsored and achieved passage of law in California to increase prenatal HIV testing and make it easier to achieve 
· Sponsored and achieved passage of law in California to require legislative re-evaluation of the state's HIV reporting system if it fails to meet federal standard
· Represented on state advisory committee to develop Oregon's HIV reporting system
· Actively lobbied for regulations on name-based reporting in Pennsylvania
· Supported legislation for name-based HIV reporting in Kentucky
· Led successful campaigns for vetoes by two Governors in California of legislation for reporting of HIV by secret codes; opposed subsequent regulations for "non-name" reporting system
· In local action, Beyond AIDS members achieved  legislation on HIV reporting, partner notification, and newborn screening in New York; and have been active in HIV public policy issues in Florida

Examples of Federal Legislative and Policy Efforts:
· Supported successful federal Ryan White CARE Act revision to more efficiently use federal funds for prevention
· Supported federal legislation to encourage all states to test pregnant women and newborns
· Met with leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to propose a revised agenda to control the national HIV epidemic
· Participated in CDC's national HIV Prevention Summit, to develop new ideas on controlling HIV
· Delegation met with White House Director of National AIDS Policy, Surgeon General, and key federal and Congressional staff to promote an agenda for more effective HIV control