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AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing medicine and advocacy to individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Today, AHF is active in 45 countries, has 1,618,563 patients worldwide (U.S. 97,802), and is currently the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the U.S. Since 2015, AHF has become active in sponsoring many ballot initiatives in multiple states, (including two measures seeking to cap prescription drug prices—California Proposition 61 (2016) and Ohio Issue 2 (2017), and one seeking to block local development in L.A.—Los Angeles Measure S (2017). Each fell short at the polls. They have also fiercely advocated for the expansion of rent control in California with California Proposition 10 (2018) and California Proposition 21 (2020). Neither proposition prevailed.

History
In 1987, activists Chris Brownlie, Michael Weinstein, Sharon Raphael, PhD, Mina Meyer, MA, and other advocates were among the earliest champions of the AIDS hospice movement. They co-founded the Los Angeles AIDS Hospice Committee, which was the catalyst for the AIDS Hospice Foundation that we know today as the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Members of the inaugural AIDS Hospice Committee—Brownlie, Weinstein, Myer, Raphael, Paul Coleman and others—negotiated for the opening of the Chris Brownlie Hospice by protesting and picketing of then-Supervisor Mike Antonovich's home. Following their emotional plea to the Los Angeles County Commission on AIDS, which included the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, they secured a $2 million commitment to AIDS care on the grounds of the Barlow Respiratory Hospital.

The group then converted a facility in Elysian Park that had been Barlow's old nursing quarters into Chris Brownlie Hospice, the County's first AIDS hospice, named in Brownlie's honor when it first opened December 26, 1988. Meyer, who also served as Treasurer of the AIDS Hospice Committee, was honored in 1987 by the Los Angeles AIDS Hospice Committee with its 'Heart of Gold Award' for her early work in the effort to formulate AIDS hospice care in Los Angeles. The 25-bed hospice—the first of three operated by AHF, including the Carl Bean House and Linn House, which opened in 1992 and 1995 respectively—provided 24-hour medical and palliative care to people living through the final stages of AIDS. Less than a year after Chris Brownlie Hospice opened, Brownlie died at the age of 39 (November 26, 1989). He was survived by his father, sister, brothers, longtime partner Phil Wilson, and countless friends and fellow AIDS activists. In addition to Brownlie, over 1,000 people had been given dignified, specialized and compassionate final care at the Chris Brownlie Hospice from its opening to the end of operations in September 1996. The building that housed the Brownlie Hospice would go on to house various departments of AHF, including the headquarters for AHF's Public Health Division. On January 26, 2013, the organization officially turned the property back over to the City of Los Angeles with a sunset memorial ceremony.

As medical opportunities for managing HIV became more available, AHF changed its mission to help individuals with HIV/AIDS live well with the disease through advanced medical care. This shift was marked with the change of the Foundation's name to AIDS Healthcare Foundation in July 1990.

Because medical opportunities for managing HIV became more available, AHF changed its mission to help individuals with HIV/AIDS live well with the disease through advanced medical care. This shift was marked by the change of the Foundation's name to AIDS Healthcare Foundation in July 1990.

Since then the organization has grown significantly. The organization currently operates in 45 countries (African countries 13, Americas 13, Asia 10, Europe 9) and 16 states (CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MD, NV, NJ, NY, OH, PA, PR, SC, TX, WA and District of Columbia). They run the Out of the closet thrift store chain with 21 stores in 7 states, and they operate 84 Healthcare centers in 14 states, including 24 Wellness centers in 9 states and 10 global Wellness centers in 5 countries. In 2012, AHF acquired the MOMS Pharmacy chain, and in 2013 the organization rebranded the chain as AHF Pharmacy—now with 62 outlets in 14 states.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Impact
In 2018, AHF provided 199,975 free HIV tests domestically. In 2019, that number rose to 221,277, and in 2020 (due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic) it decreased its testing numbers to 126,442. With the addition of free HIV tests administered globally, the total number of HIV tests AHF provided in 2018 was 4,672,370. There was a decrease in the overall number of tests given each year at 4,463,357 in 2019 and 3,260,486 in 2020. In addition, AIDS Healthcare Foundation has provided 15 mobile HIV testing units across 9 states, and another 6 mobile testing units in 5 countries, and in support of safer sex, AHF distributed 68,873,376 condoms globally in 2020. In 2018 and 2019, those numbers were 66,244,564 and 91,021,890 respectively.

AHF Care
Over the years AHF has grown as an organization that not only provides quality care for people living with HIV/AIDS but one with a host of health care facilities available to the general public. While their Healthcare Centers provide the full gamut of primary care designed specifically for HIV-positive patients, their Public Health Division Wellness Centers offer free, walk-in STD and HIV testing and links to treatment. Their Positive Healthcare plan (PHP) is a part of their managed care division, which has been providing for people living with AIDS since 1995. At the time it began, it was the United States’ first Medicaid managed care plan for people living with AIDS. Additionally, the 62 pharmacies AHF operates give 96 cents of every dollar earned back to HIV care for their patients. The AHF Dental division offers full dental services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Their Los Angeles location serves 1,404 patients while their South Florida clinic serves just over 400 people.

Out of the Closet
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation opened its first Out of the Closet (OTC) thrift store in 1990 as a way to fund its AIDS hospice care as well as care for people living with HIV. Currently, the thrift stores give back 96 cents of every dollar they earn to HIV/AIDS services provided by AHF. In addition, many of these locations offer free STD/HIV testing services and many have an AHF Pharmacy co-located on the premises. AHF’s chain of Out of the Closet stores can now be found in seven states in the U.S. Advocacy Since its inception, AHF has supported causes that affect vulnerable populations both domestically and globally. Advocacy is at the center of the organization’s mission, where they’ve grown from a small but committed group of activists into a powerful champion for social change. Beginning with their fight for adequate and compassionate care for those living with HIV/AIDS, they continue to educate, organize and use their political power to fight for human rights.

Lowering Drug Prices
At a Washington, DC press conference in February 2002, AHF President Michael Weinstein denounced exorbitant drug prices by GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company (GSK). AHF filed suit against GSK in July (year?) in a Los Angeles federal court to protest antitrust and patent violations regarding GSK's antiviral drugs AZT, 3TC and Ziagen.[15] AHF amended its lawsuit against GSK in November 2002 to include a request that the drug company's patents be invalidated so U.S. residents can take advantage of cheaper, generic versions. In February 2003, GSK cut the cost of Trizivir and Combivir in developing countries by as much as 90 percent. In December 2003, pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories raised the price of Norvir(Ritonavir) by 400% while leaving the price of Kaletra—which has Norvir as a significant component—unchanged. In February 2004, AHF filed an antitrust and restraint of trade lawsuit against Abbott concerning its drug prices and policies on its key AIDS drug, Norvir, as well as its subsequent derivative drug, Kaletra. In August 2005, AHF criticized drug manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim for pricing its latest AIDS drug Aptivus (Tipranavir), at $13,000 a year, the highest price for a protease inhibitor of its time.[16] In November 2006, AHF asked Indian anti-HIV drug manufacturer Cipla to reduce the price of its combination drug Viraday from its launch price of about Rs 62,000 per year. Cipla CEO Y. K. Hamied cited taxes and customs duties on raw materials as reasons for the high price but agreed to a price cut.[17] In January 2007, AHF filed suit in Los Angeles over Pfizer's direct-to-consumer marketing of Viagra, accusing Pfizer of promoting off-label, recreational use of Viagra and suggesting a link between Viagra, methamphetamine, and unsafe sex. Pfizer denied AHF's claims and mentioned that AHF had recently asked Pfizer to fund an educational program about meth.[18] In August 2007, AHF began purchasing full-page ads in Indian newspapers accusing Cipla of overpricing. According to AHF, a year's worth of Viraday costs Rs 54,000 when sold in India, but only Rs 21,000 when exported to Africa.[19] Some (Non-governmental Organization) NGOs declined to join AHF in criticizing Cipla's drug prices, citing a potential conflict of interest—Cipla's opposition to the patent application for Viread, a component of Viraday, filed by AHF contributor, Gilead Sciences. Gilead denied involvement in AHF's complaint, and an AHF regional chief stated that AHF also opposed Gilead's patent application for Viread.[20] In response to campaigning, Cipla was brought under investigation by the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission (MRTPC) and moves to reduce the price of Viraday and Efavir in India by 15%. In March 2008, AHF petitioned drug manufacturers including Abbot, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, GSK, Merck, Pfizer, Roche and Tibotec to freeze the price of their HIV drugs in the U.S, stating that as a result of regular drug price increases, "HIV/AIDS assistance programs will essentially be flat-funded and unable to provide access to additional people in need of life-saving drugs."[21] In June, the organization applauded decisions by Boehringer Ingelheim and Gilead Sciences to freeze prices on antiretroviral medications purchased by government agencies. In September 2013, AHF filed a lawsuit in California against GSK alleging that the company “... failed to fully satisfy its obligations with respect to discounts for drugs it sold to AIDS Healthcare Foundation over a period of many years," under the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal drug discount program designed to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible for community healthcare providers such as AHF.[22]

Housing is a Human Right
AHF’s Housing is a Human Right initiative aims to end gentrification and stop the affordability crisis plaguing the nation. Since 2017, they’ve been attacking unaffordable housing through community involvement in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Seattle and Washington D.C. AHF believes housing is a public health issue, and the crisis facing these dense cities threatens the health of all who are homeless or displaced. AHF’s fair-housing advocacy has led them to criticize oppose local politicians (NOTE: Under our 501(c)3 status, we CANNOT endorse or oppose political candidates, we can, however, criticize politicians) and housing development companies at the ballot box pushing against proposals like California’s SB 9 and SB10, two housing production bills which AHF fears will instead further gentrification and exacerbate the state’s housing crisis.

Their answer to the call for affordable housing is the Healthy Housing Foundation, which AHF launched in late 2017. The Healthy Housing Foundation purchases, refurbishes and repurposes older SRO hotels and motels in the greater Los Angeles area for housing for homeless individuals and people who live at extremely low- and very low-income levels. (https://www.housinghumanright.org/about/)

Healthy Housing Foundation
AHF started the Healthy Housing Foundation (HHF) as an option for affordable housing for extremely low-income individuals and families. The Healthy Housing foundation was launched with special considerations for serving those previously homeless or displaced. Additionally, having seen firsthand how important the role of stable housing is in the successful management of the health care and wellbeing of individuals living with chronic health conditions, priority for these affordable units is given to people with chronic health conditions, including--but not limited to--those living with HIV or AIDS. The foundation’s website shows they currently operate 10 residential buildings throughout Greater Los Angeles providing 1,015 dwelling units. (https://www.healthyhousingfoundation.net/mission/)

Medicare 4 ALL
The Medicare for all movement was started in response to the rising cost of healthcare leaving millions uninsured or underinsured. AHF has backed the congressional push for a single-payer health care system aimed at creating equal access to quality medical care.

Let It B
AHF's Let it B is a campaign aiming to keep the 340B Drug Pricing Program intact. 340B is a federally administered drug pricing program that enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services. It costs taxpayers nothing, as the discounts come directly from the participating pharmaceutical companies. 340B provides low-cost medications for millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans and plays an increasingly key role in rural health care delivery. It essentially provides the funding for providers to prescribe medications to their patients who cannot otherwise afford them.

Clinics
AHF currently serves 1,618,563 people in 45 countries through global clinics offering HIV testing, antiretroviral and other HIV/AIDS prevention, and treatment services. South Africa became home to AHF's first treatment center outside of the U.S. with the establishment of the Ithembalabantu (‘People's Hope' in Zulu) clinic in the Durban township of Umlazi in 2002 through a partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health. In addition to Ithembalabantu, AHF now supports 60 other clinics in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Through these sites, AHF South Africa offers comprehensive HIV and tuberculosis testing, treatment and care. Nationwide services include antiretroviral medication, CD4 testing, lab monitoring, treatment of opportunistic infections, on-site pharmacy services, distribution of free condoms to the public, and community outreach programs to test the population for HIV and link those who test positive into care. AHF's other worldwide clinics span Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the U.S., and Latin America.

World AIDS Day
Each year on December 1, AHF marks World AIDS Day with a series of international events, commemorations and observances throughout many of the 45 countries where AHF operates. It is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made battling HIV/AIDS over the years, as well as being a reminder of the work left to be done considering the 1.7 million new HIV infections every year. AHF uses its World AIDS Day events as a call on world leaders to “Keep the Promise” to all people affected by HIV/AIDS. Each World AIDS Day event has a unifying theme, though events in each country are adapted to the local setting with a specific focus on the populations most impacted in the respective regions.

In 2014, AHF hosted over 160 World Aids Day Events in 28 countries.

International Condom Day
Each year AHF and its partners commemorate International Condom Day (ICD), an informal holiday which AHF spearheaded and is observed on February 13th. AHF and its global partners mark the holiday with LOVE Condom events such as marches, free HIV testing events and public outreach. The organization created ICD to promote access to condoms in conjunction with convenient, free Rapid Testing and access to antiretroviral treatment as integral components of the global fight against HIV/AIDS.[25] Since the inception of the LOVE Condom campaign in 2008, AHF-branded LOVE Condoms have gained popularity across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. AHF celebrates ICD in the 45 countries and 16 states they operate in with the ongoing theme ‘Safer is Sexy’ as an innovative and lighthearted way to remind people that wearing a condom can prevent pregnancy and many STDs, including HIV.

International Women's Day
In 2013, an estimated 52% of AHF clients were women and approximately 47% of all the pediatric patients in AHF’s care were female. Additionally, an estimated 96,660 of the women in AHF’s care were on antiretroviral treatment. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation celebrates International Women’s Day by organizing events in countries around the world. “Keep the Promise to Women” has been a theme as advocates offer free HIV testing and promote messages of empowerment, education and healthy living. In 2018, AHF Indonesia marked its first IWD celebration with a march that set the stage for a day of successful festivities. Female condoms were distributed in Argentina, and in Nigeria, 200 women received versatile water buckets as gifts. Other countries had unique events as well, like “Art as Activism” in South Africa and colorful choreographed dances by community members in China.

Rose Parade
Since 2012, AHF has sponsored HIV awareness themed Rose Parade floats. In 2012 and 2013, they won the Queen's Trophy for best use of roses.

Film
AHF films has a catalog of documentary, parody, and advocacy videos spanning three decades. The organization's documentary film Keep The Promise: The Global Fight Against AIDS depicts the AHF-sponsored protest of government anti-HIV funding levels and anti-HIV drug prices at the XIX International AIDS Conference, 2012. The film premiered on March 29, 2013, at the Vail Film Festival.

Research
AHF has over 10 years of experience in antiretroviral research focused on discovering better treatments and improving the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. AHF's antiretroviral (ARV) studies include: Studies of new ARV medications, both before and after FDA approval Studies for people who already take ARV medications and are failing, as well as studies for people who have not yet begun ARV therapy Studies comparing different combinations of ARV medications Studies to reduce the number of pills a person must take, and to reduce dosing frequency Women's studies, looking at the quality of life for women with HIV Studies examining obstacles that prevent people from taking their ARV medications as prescribed Research into related conditions such as Hepatitis C and neurological disorders Dr. Otto Yang, AHF's Scientific Director, also heads the HIV Immunotherapy Institute.

Legal activism
In May 1999, AHF filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles over the mismanagement of AIDS Housing Funds. Following a state legislator's audit, the Los Angeles City Controller revealed that more than $17 million in federal funds for people with AIDS went unspent as an AIDS homeless crisis raged in Los Angeles. Additionally, there was a public protest when the California Department of Health Services attempted to cite one of the AHF hospices for not having a licensed nursing home administrator. However, having a nursing home administrator was not a requirement under State regulations for that type of facility. AHF then charged the state with engaging in a pattern of discrimination, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Federal Rehabilitation Act, and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. The city’s settlement resulted in dropping the claim that the AHF hospices had to hire a licensed nursing home administrator. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11366628/) AHF has continued a rich and extensive history of litigation when it comes to laws and public policy that greatly affects people living with HIV/AIDS and people living with low to extremely low incomes. This includes filing lawsuits for continued funding for HIV research and care, safer sex measures, pressuring big pharma companies to lower drug prices, and urging elected officials to provide more affordable housing.