HIV/AIDS Advances of 2013: Treatment, Adherence, Policy

The past year has been revolutionary for HIV-positive patients, both in medical care and in policy. And more is in store for the coming year, according to Dr. Michael Horberg of Kaiser Permanente. Listen as the immediate past president of the HIV Medicine Association briefly reviews events of 2013 and forecasts 2014.

Dr. Horberg is Director for HIV/AIDS at Kaiser Permanente and Clinical Lead for HIV/AIDS at its Care Management Institute.

Key points:

1. Early treatment:  "There's no CD4 limit any more, high or low, as to when to start treatment. And certainly also every pregnant woman should be treated."

2. Adherence: "There's some new medications ... and certainly the continued need for high adherence. ... to ensure high odds of achieving viral suppression."

3. Policy:  "Certainly the passage and signature of the President of the Hope Act which is going to allow HIV-positive patients to receive HIV-positive donor organs ... and of course the US Preventive Services Task Force making HIV testing a Grade A recommendation."

4. Forecasts for 2014:  "To really see the Affordable Care Act enacted, getting patients into care ... and seeing more patients tested and diagnosed. ... Finally, I think we're going to see a revolution in hepatitis C care."

But challenges remain. How can we reduce the still-high rates of infection in high-risk populations?

HIV/AIDS Advances of 2013: Treatment, Adherence, Policy