First, we were thrilled to hear this morning that Congress has agreed to maintain funding for all domestic HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs. This critical investment ensures continued access to vital services for millions living with or at risk of HIV. We are also excited to welcome Chevron as a new Coalition member! Chevron has been a trailblazer and global leader at the intersection of HIV and business since the 1980s, implementing HIV programs for employees and supporting the global HIV fight philanthropically. We are thrilled to add their experience and leadership to this group. Lastly, we are delighted to launch a new series highlighting the innovative work of business leaders among our member companies. In this ongoing feature, we'll showcase insights and strategies from trailblazers accelerating progress towards ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. We are pleased to begin the series profiling Lynn Baxter from ViiV Healthcare, the founding member of the Coalition. Enjoy!

Actions from Members

• Welcome New Coalition Member - Chevron!
  
  
• Welcome New Sponsors - We extend our sincere gratitude to our latest sponsors of the Coalition - Ada Health and Mistr - who have come on this month as Champion Sponsors. They joined Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare, this year's Presenting Sponsors, as well as our Supporting Sponsors Avita Care Solutions, EMD Serono, Healthvana, Match Group and Paramount Pictures. Thank you so much - we couldn’t do this work without your support!
  
  
• Last month ViiV Healthcare highlighted the work of the Coalition with their Employee Resource Groups Spectrum, CRECE and Mosaic, representing LGBTQ+, Hispanic heritage, and individuals of African descent. ViiV invited Mario Harper, Director of U.S. Business Action to End HIV, to lead a dynamic and engaging discussion about the actions and ideas of the Coalition. Stephanie Aguilar from Paramount Pictures and Vikki Walton from Mercer joined as guests and shared insights and educated ViiV colleagues. The online event had exceptional attendance from ViiV and GSK colleagues. ViiV was delighted to showcase the coalition and appreciated the amazing participation of Paramount Pictures and Mercer.
  
  
• Walmart and OptimizeRx announced a new partnership to introduce the Digital Awareness Access Program (DAAP), aimed at enhancing care for individuals with HIV and auto-immune diseases. The collaboration will deliver messaging directly to healthcare providers treating HIV and auto-immune-impacted populations, highlighting the resources available through Walmart Specialty Pharmacies of the Community.
  
  
• Earlier this month at ViVE in LA, OpenAI’s Head of Partnerships and Global Affairs Lane Dilg mentioned Healthvana as a successful patient-facing AI use case in healthcare - specifically for using AI for personalized communication to engage priority populations and improve health outcomes. Thousands of patients already have access to Healthvana’s AI (soon to be live in 17 states) to help them navigate their care and answer sexual health-related questions.

Action from the Coalition

• With support from Mercer, the Coalition spearheaded the submission of a letter to Congress, signed by influential private sector leaders, calling on Congress to fully fund domestic HIV programs in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations packages. The letter, signed by the American Benefits Council, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Business Action to End HIV, with ally support from Business Group on Health and HR Policy Association, highlighted the critical role federal funding plays in ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. And great news - in the bill released today, we are relieved to see that Congress has agreed to maintain funding for all domestic HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs (as well as included funding for PEPFAR)!
  
  
• During NCQA’s recent HEDIS public comment period, the Coalition submitted recommendations to include HIV-related quality measures in the HEDIS set so employers can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of their health plans in addressing HIV prevention and treatment. Incorporating measures would enable employers to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, reduce healthcare costs, and help build a stronger workforce. Because what gets measured, is managed. (ViiV Healthcare also submitted public comments.)

Opportunities For Action

• Download New State Advocacy Playbook - To end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030, it's critical to accelerate expanded access to HIV prevention and linkage to care services, including efforts to meet people where they live. Community pharmacies play a vital role in achieving these goals. To support these efforts, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has developed a new State Advocacy Playbook for stakeholders, including businesses and individuals, to advance state scope of practice and payment policies for community pharmacists. Businesses can support these efforts within their communities by downloading this comprehensive roadmap and partnering with other organizations committed to expanding access to HIV services in pharmacies.
  
  
• Join the Atlanta Chapter - We are thrilled to host the first meeting of the Atlanta Chapter on Wednesday, March 27 from 12:00-1:30pm ET, at Mercer's office in Atlanta. If your company would like to participate in the Atlanta chapter and contribute to the local HIV response, please register to attend. (Lunch will be served; virtual meeting option available).
  
  
• Join the Upcoming Houston and Los Angeles Chapters - You can get a head start joining our upcoming local chapters in Houston and Los Angeles, which will be launching later this year.
  
  
• Join HIV Testing Cohort - Next week, Wednesday, March 27 from 2-3pm ET we will host the first convening of the new Industry Action Cohort focused on expanding access to HIV Testing. All Coalition members are invited to join. We will discuss the barriers and opportunities to expand HIV testing and brainstorm how this group can most effectively work together to advance these efforts. Register for the meeting.
  
  
• Attend National Employers Summit - The Health Action Alliance is hosting a National Employers Summit on Thursday, April 25, 2-3pm ET - Cultivating Health Equity in the Modern Workplace to share strategies for how a company can champion health equity and create a workplace where all employees thrive. This virtual event, featuring experts in health equity, HR, and workplace wellness, will delve into health disparities, including the ongoing impact of HIV, and provide innovative solutions for companies of all sizes seeking to foster inclusive and supportive work environments. We hope you can join! Register here.

HIV in the News

• Scientists Say they Can Cut HIV out of Cells, BBC (March 19)
  • Excision BioTherapeutics was referenced several times in the news this week as outlets reported on European scientists who are also experimenting with CRISPR gene-editing technology to eliminate HIV from infected cells.
    
    
• Congress Agrees to Maintain Funding for Domestic HIV Programs, HIV + Hepatitis Institute (March 21)
  
  
• What made the cut in Congress’s $1.2 trillion funding deal?, The Hill (March 21)

Leading By Example

We are thrilled to launch a new monthly series highlighting inspiring business leaders standing a stand on HIV. These spotlights will showcase innovative strategies companies are using to make an impact and accelerate progress toward an end to the HIV epidemic in the U.S.

Lynn Baxter
‍Head of North America
ViiV Healthcare

Please share a brief description of your current role:

I have served as ViiV Healthcare’s Head of North America since February 1, 2019, joining ViiV Healthcare from GSK where I was the Global Vaccines Commercial leader. In my over 25 years in Pharmaceuticals, I’ve had the privilege to have held varied roles around the world and spanning therapeutic areas that have positively impacted the health of individuals, communities and societies. In my current role, I’m proud to lead a team of around 750 dedicated, talented, and passionate individuals across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico all focused on achieving ViiV Healthcare’s mission to leave no person living with HIV behind.

Why do you believe it's important for businesses to play a role in addressing HIV?

Ending the HIV epidemic for all people is not a finish line that will be reached through the actions of a single program, company, or government initiative. We will only be successful in this effort by uniting the many individuals and groups who have a role to play in affecting change in our society. This includes more companies within the private business sector using their expertise to help remove obstacles like lack of awareness and educational programs and policy hurdles that block HIV prevention/treatment services within communities. We need to be more innovative and holistic in our approach to how we reach the communities to help understand and connect to care if we’re going to be successful in moving the needle. U.S. Business Action to End HIV is hard at work to help address these obstacles.

How do you hope to see U.S. Business Action to End HIV and coalition members contributing toward ending HIV in the U.S.?

I feel it’s natural for our organizations in the business world to have an eye towards optimization and that’s precisely the expertise this group can bring to the wider effort of ending the HIV epidemic. As the founding member of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV, we view this effort as an accelerator for optimization. We want to continue working with all corporate members and the community to fill gaps and accelerate progress to help end HIV through meaningful contributions these organizations can own, such as addressing barriers to health equity, offering tools, resources and events to help employers educate workers, fight stigma, improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and build connections to the communities who need it most.

Read Lynn's Complete Profile

Coming Up

• OutCare's OutTalk Series - Unmasking  Corporate Strategies for LGBTQ Communities (virtual)
  • Thursday, March 21, 6pm ET; Mario participating on panel - Register
    
    
• Mercer Total Rewards Seminar (Atlanta)
  • March 26; Mario speaking during event
    
    
• Q1 Atlanta Chapter Meeting (Atlanta & virtual)
  • Wednesday, March 27, 12-1:30pm ET - Register
    
    
• HIV Testing Cohort (virtual)
  • Wednesday, March 27, 2-3pm ET - Register
    
    
• HAA's National Employers Summit: Cultivating Health Equity in the Modern Workplace (virtual)
  • Thursday, April 25, 2-3pm ET - Register
    
    
• Asembia Conference Panel (Las Vegas)
  • April 28-May 2; Mario participating in Walmart panel together with Elton John AIDS  Foundation and the Virginia Board of Pharmacy about expanding scope of practice in community pharmacies

Thank you for your commitment and leadership. Let's keep up the momentum!

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