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BackgroundAccess to and engagement in high-quality HIV medical care and treatment is essential for ending the HIV epidemic. The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) plays a critical role in ensuring that people living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) are linked to and consistently engaged in high quality care and receive HIV medication in a timely manner. State variation in HIV prevalence, the proportion of PLWH served by the RWHAP, and local health care environments could influence the state-specific impact of the RWHAP. This analysis sought to measure the state-specific impact of the RWHAP on the HIV service delivery system and health outcomes for PLWH, and presents template language to communicate this impact for state planning and stakeholder engagement.Methods and findingsThe HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (CDC DHAP) have developed a mathematical model to estimate the state-specific impact of the RWHAP. This model was parameterized using RWHAP data, HIV surveillance data, an existing CDC model of HIV transmission and disease progression, and parameters from the literature. In this study, the model was used to analyze the hypothetical scenario of an absence of the RWHAP and to calculate the projected impact of this scenario on RWHAP clients, RWHAP-funded providers, mortality, new HIV cases, and costs compared with the current state inclusive of the RWHAP. To demonstrate the results of the model, we selected two states, representing high HIV prevalence and low HIV prevalence areas. These states serve to demonstrate the functionality of the model and how state-specific results can be translated into a state-specific impact statement using template language.ConclusionsIn the example states presented, the RWHAP provides HIV care, treatment, and support services to a large proportion of PLWH in each state. The absence of the RWHAP in these states could result in substantially more deaths and HIV cases than currently observed, resulting in considerable lifetime HIV care and treatment costs associated with additional HIV cases. State-specific impact statements may be valuable in the development of state-level HIV prevention and care plans or for communications with planning bodies, state health department leadership, and other stakeholders. State-specific impact statements will be available to RWHAP Part B recipients upon request from HRSA's HIV/AIDS Bureau.

Purpose: Nutrigenomic researchers hope to improve health through personalized nutrition, but many consider the sale of nutrigenomic services to be premature. Few studies have evaluated the promotion and sales practices of organizations hosting nutrigenomic websites. Methods: Systematic search and analysis of websites promoting nutrigenomic services in October 2006. Results: Of the 64 organizations hosting websites, 29 organizations offered (24 of 29) or promoted (5 of 29) at-home testing and 26 organizations sold services on-line (17 of 26) or provided a direct link to on-line sales (9 of 26). A lack of transparency made it difficult to identify unique tests; however, three organizations were linked to 56% of all test mentions. Most organizations were healthcare/wellness service providers (50%) or laboratories/biotech companies (27%). Few organizations provided on-line information about laboratory certifications (20%), nutrigenomic test or research limitations (13%), test validity or utility (11%), or genetic counseling (9%). Affiliation opportunities were offered by 15 organizations. Conclusions: Organizations did not provide adequate information about nutrigenomic services and at-home genetic testing. Affiliation opportunities and distribution agreements suggest the promotion and sale of nutrigenomic services will continue, increasing the importance of consumer and provider education. In absence of federal regulation, organizations promoting nutrigenomic services should equate websites to product labels and include information to facilitate informed decision-making.