Planned Parenthood to Host Twitter Town Hall on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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Follow the Twitter Conversation on Thursday, February 7, at 11:30 a.m. (EST) Via Hashtag #HIVaware

WASHINGTON — Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced today that it will host a Twitter Town Hall on HIV/AIDS on Thursday, February 7 — National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — featuring Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s vice president of external medical affairs. You can follow the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Twitter conversation on Thursday, February 7, at 11:30 a.m. (EST) via the Twitter hashtag #HIVaware.

The Twitter Town Hall will be a chance to prompt and engage in a conversation about the health disparities that African Americans face in this country, the current HIV/AIDS threat to the African-American community, and the need for access to affordable, high-quality health care services in the changing health care landscape.

Dr. Vanessa Cullins will be tweeting from @PPFAQ.  Dr. Cullins is responsible for leadership at the intersection of Medical Services, Public Policy, and Communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and has extensive clinical and administrative experience in reproductive health.

“National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about this pandemic and unite in the fight against HIV in the African-American community. We’ve made  progress so far, but there is still much work to be done,” said Dr. Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s vice president of external medical affairs. “The Twitter Town Hall is an opportunity for our community to participate in this important discussion, ask questions, share personal experiences, and encourage young people to stay on top of their health.

“Under the Affordable Care Act, millions more people will be eligible for health insurance and HIV care. More than 750 Planned Parenthood health centers across the country look forward to helping every community access this critical preventive care in our nation’s fight against HIV/AIDS.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in this country, including more than 500,000 African Americans. African Americans account for almost half of all HIV infections in the U.S., and are the racial/ethnic demographic group most affected by HIV.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IN FIGHTING HIV/AIDS

• Under the Affordable Care Act, millions more people will be eligible for health insurance and HIV care. Currently, insurers will be required to fully cover annual counseling and screening for HIV infection for all sexually active women, as well as HIV screening for adolescents and adults ages 13-64.
• In November, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended that all Americans aged 15-65 receive routine HIV testing, not just those most at risk. If finalized, this would mean insurers would have to cover HIV screening without a co-pay.
• Health care providers like Planned Parenthood health centers will play a large role in translating these new requirements into expanded access to health care for people across the country. 

PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S COMMITMENT TO CARE — NO MATTER WHAT

• Planned Parenthood health centers are among the nation’s leading providers of HIV screening. In 2011, Planned Parenthood health centers conducted 680,000 HIV tests, a 16 percent increase from 2010.
• One in three women who receives an HIV test is tested at a women’s health center like Planned Parenthood.
• Planned Parenthood is committed to reducing racial disparities in reproductive health care, and will continue to work tirelessly for a health care system that provides affordable, high-quality care and treats all people with dignity.