{"id":6001,"date":"2020-12-02T13:19:55","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T19:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/?p=6001"},"modified":"2020-12-02T13:19:56","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T19:19:56","slug":"on-world-aids-day-bipartisan-missouri-legislators-announce-filing-of-bills-to-end-transmission-of-hiv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/es\/on-world-aids-day-bipartisan-missouri-legislators-announce-filing-of-bills-to-end-transmission-of-hiv\/","title":{"rendered":"En el D\u00eda Mundial del SIDA, legisladores bipartidistas de Missouri anuncian la presentaci\u00f3n de proyectos de ley para poner fin a la transmisi\u00f3n del VIH"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Immediate Release<\/b>
\n<\/b>December 2, 2020<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO\u2026) <\/b>On World AIDS Day, 2020, a bipartisan group of Missouri legislators held a 1 p.m. virtual press conference via Zoom and Facebook to announce the filing of legislation aimed at ending transmission of HIV in our state. They were joined by People Living with HIV and other members of the Missouri HIV Justice Coalition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Senator-Elect Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston, Senate District 27) has been a champion on this issue since 2018 and is again sponsoring her \u201cHarm Reduction Package.\u201d The three bill set includes measures to modernize Missouri\u2019s outdated and medically inaccurate HIV-specific criminal statutes, a needle and syringe exchange program, and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe get to file our bills on this day that is so significant,\u201d Rehder said. \u201cWe have had so many advancements in HIV treatment since the 1980\u2019s when our statutes were put into place. Medical professionals, researchers, scientists know so much more about it now than they did then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rehder continued, \u201cLiving with HIV is not a death sentence, but many in the general public do not know that. Removing the stigma is very important; medications are available, and we do have the ability to [end HIV transmission].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Peters, House District 105), is carrying the HIV policy modernization bill on the House side, and is also sponsoring legislation to expand access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Senator-Elect Greg Razer (D-Kansas City, Senate District 7) will file the PEP\/PrEP bills in the Missouri Senate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christofanelli said, \u201cIf taken within 72 hours of exposure to the virus, PEP can make it almost impossible for the person taking the medicine to develop HIV. However, having to get a doctor\u2019s appointment, can mean that you miss that critical three-day window.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Christofanelli bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe PEP and PrEP, increasing access and reducing transmission of the virus. Christofanelli added, \u201cWhile science has not yet found a way to cure HIV, we certainly have the tools at our disposal to end HIV [transmission] if we take the correct actions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Senator-Elect Razer said, \u201cWorld AIDS Day is a conflicting day for many. For those of us who have lost friends and loved ones to AIDS, it\u2019s a day to commemorate, but it\u2019s also a day to celebrate. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this epidemic that started in the 1980\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Razer acknowledged the importance of educating the public and members of the Missouri General Assembly to ensure passage of the legislation. \u201cMany in the public and in the Legislature have not been following the medical progress [regarding] HIV for some time now. Today HIV is a very manageable, chronic virus to deal with. [A person living with HIV] who takes medicine today is very likely to achieve [an undetectable] viral load. This means they cannot transmit the virus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding their support for the legislators\u2019 efforts to improve HIV policy in Missouri were:<\/span><\/p>\n