Legislative Prospectus: HIV
December 29, 2021
There were approximately 34,800 new HIV infections in the United States in 2019, with an estimated 80% of transmissions occurring among people who are unaware that they have HIV or are not regularly receiving care for their HIV.
In 2019, the federal government announced its goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. To reach this goal, states are implementing evidence-based policies to prevent future HIV cases. For example, in 2020, 17 state and local health departments implemented an innovative HIV testing project, where, as part of a public-private partnership with Building Health Online Communities, NASTAD, and Emory University, free at-home HIV testing kits were advertised on gay dating applications, reaching nearly 5,000 people, 36% of whom had never been tested for HIV before.
Beyond enhancing HIV testing, states and territories are also implementing policies to improve access to pre-exposure prophylaxis; establish syringe services programs to prevent the spread of infectious diseases; and implement comprehensive sex education initiatives.