Amid Rising STD Rates in the US, Cost Barriers Stymie Testing and Screening

Sep 18, 2018 | Kim Rodgers

In a recent article, Rewire.News discusses the challenges people face in paying for services that protect sexual health, such as STD screenings and birth control. In particular, the article focuses on how young people, people with low income, people of color, and those who are uninsured or underinsured are too often forced to decline care as a result of cost. The article highlights these issues and explores how proposed changes to Title X could exacerbate them.

Title X family planning clinics play a critical role in ensuring access to a broad range of family planning and preventive health services. The extent of on-site testing, education, and counseling services in these clinics is based on the availability of funds, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the article, Rebekah Horowitz, Senior Program Analyst on NACCHO’s HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Team, told Rewire.News that funding for these services has decreased at every level in the past 15 years, which has led to a decrease in health departments providing clinical STI testing.

“This means that there is additional pressure to get people insured so they can see a non-health department provider and normalize the provision of, and request for, these services from these providers. If there is a stigma from the individual and the provider around talking about sexual health issues, the movement towards using insurance and seeing private providers for these services will lead to many not receiving the services,” she said.

Health departments are often the only providers of partner services, which are offered to those who test positive for an STI, their partners, and to other people who are at increased risk for infection. The basic process for partner services involves interviewing infected people and others potentially involved in transmission, identifying those still at risk, and bringing them to diagnosis and treatment, Horowitz said.

View the full article.


About Kim Rodgers

Pronouns: She/Her

Kim Rodgers was formerly the Communications Manager at NACCHO.

More posts by Kim Rodgers

Related Posts

I Stock 1182682774
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
  • Behavioral Health
  • Community Health
  • Injury and Violence Prevention

Seeking LHD Participants for an Intersectional Data...

With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NACCHO is...

Mar 28, 2024 | Camille Adams

Seeking LHD Participants for an Intersectional Data...

World TB Day 2024 1
  • ID Featured
  • Infectious Disease
  • Tuberculosis

Recognizing World TB Day 2024: The Role of Local Health...

LHDs across the nation actively work to eliminate TB through surveillance, case...

Mar 21, 2024 | Kimberly Nalley

Recognizing World TB Day 2024: The Role of Local Health...

I Stock 1318852282
  • COVID-19
  • Immunization
  • Infectious Disease
  • Influenza

Maternal and Child Vaccine Safety - Enhancing Vaccine...

After conducting a Rapid Community Assessment (RCA), in collaboration with the...

Mar 19, 2024 | Victoria Thompson, Clarissa Montes

Maternal and Child Vaccine Safety - Enhancing Vaccine...

Measles Blog 1
  • Tools & Resources
  • Community Health
  • ID Featured
  • Immunization

The Current Status of Measles in the US + Resources to...

This resource round-up aims to help local health departments and healthcare...

Mar 18, 2024 | Irene Halferty, Emma James, Victoria Thompson, Amy Maxson, Robin Mowson

The Current Status of Measles in the US + Resources to...

1

Building Community Resilience Through Maternal and Child...

NACCHO, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s...

Mar 15, 2024 | Elana Filipos

Building Community Resilience Through Maternal and Child...

  • HIV, STI, & Viral Hepatitis

CDC Study Reveals Increase in Overdoses Associated with...

A recent CDC study demonstrates a need for LHDs and other local harm reduction...

Mar 14, 2024 | Kat Kelley, Anjana Rao, Grace Murtha

CDC Study Reveals Increase in Overdoses Associated with...

1

Bridging Maternal-Child Health (MCH), Infectious Disease...

Funded through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National...

Mar 12, 2024 | Elana Filipos

Bridging Maternal-Child Health (MCH), Infectious Disease...

Thumbnail youtube
  • Tools & Resources
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

NACCHO Releases “Community Partnerships to Prevent...

The National Association of County and City Health Officials is pleased to...

Mar 12, 2024 | Camille Adams

NACCHO Releases “Community Partnerships to Prevent...

1
  • Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health

NACCHO Provides Funding to Local Health Departments to...

The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health team has selected 14 new local...

Mar 11, 2024 | Ryanna Quazi

NACCHO Provides Funding to Local Health Departments to...

Back to Top