Item 3: Community Health Report — original pdf

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HIV & STI Testing and Treatment Trends 2024 Review and 2025 Mid-Year Insights Table of Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kind Clinic: Pursuing Health Justice Expertise in Serving LGBTQIA+ and Priority Populations HIV & STI Care Trends in Central Texas: 2024 Breakdown of STI Diagnoses Mid-Year 2025: Signals, Shifts, and Steps Forward Breakdown of STI Diagnoses Sustainability & Demand for Services Looking Ahead: Responding to Emerging Trends 2 Kind Clinic: Pursuing Health Justice in Texas Kind Clinic, a program of Texas Health Action, provides safe, supportive, and sex-positive healthcare with expertise in serving LGBTQIA+ communities and people impacted by HIV. Services include PrEP and PEP, gender-affirming care, HIV and Hepatitis C treatment, STI testing and treatment, and intersex care. Beyond its clinics, the Community Health Program offers free walk-in HIV and STI testing and treatment as well as mobile and field-based testing events. All Community Health Program services are provided at no cost, expanding access to care for communities across Central Texas. 3 Expertise in Serving Priority Populations Texas Health Action provides STI testing and treatment to all individuals, while maintaining specialized expertise in serving LGBTQIA+ communities and other populations disproportionately impacted by HIV. These priority populations are defined by the Texas Department of State Health Services and Austin Public Health based on epidemiological data showing higher rates of HIV and STI transmission. They include Black, Latinx, and White men who have sex with men; transgender men and women; non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals; and Black and Latina women who have sex with men. While these groups face elevated risks, Texas Health Action ensures that every patient—regardless of their background or risk profile—receives the same high- quality, affirming, and stigma-free care. This approach not only addresses the unique health needs of priority populations but also promotes equitable access to sexual healthcare for the entire community. This data is reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services and local public health authorities. While publicly available data is often delayed by two to three years, Texas Health Action is releasing the following report to provide the community with timely, up-to-date information. 4 HIV & STI Care Trends in Central Texas Calendar Year 2024 In 2024, Kind Clinic’s HIV and STI testing and treatment services continued to play a critical role in protecting the health of Central Texas communities, particularly among populations at elevated risk. Our year-end data revealed important insights into testing volumes, positivity rates, and treatment linkage that help shape our outreach and prevention strategies. 6,782 – Total STI testing patient visits at Kind Clinic’s Walk-In Testing 1,185 STI & HIV Reactive Visits Total patient visits that resulted in a diagnosis for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis c 5,597 Non Reactive Visits 17.47% Positivity rate for individuals testing for STIs through Kind Clinic Community Health & Walk-In Testing Program. 5 2024 Calendar Year: Breakdown of STI Diagnoses Percent Breakdown of STI Diagnoses: Reactive Visits Calendar Year 2024 64% (614) 56%, (536) 15% (148) 2.4% (23) 0.3% (3) Approximately 1 IN 6 patient visits tested reactive for an STI in Central Texas. Percentages for individual STIs add to more than 100% because some patients were diagnosed with more than one infection during the same visit. Each diagnosis is counted separately to reflect the total occurrence of each STI. Treatment Without Delay Timely treatment is a cornerstone of Kind Clinic’s Community Program. For patients who test positive for HIV or an STI, receiving care quickly not only improves individual health outcomes but also plays a critical role in reducing community transmission. Many patients begin treatment on the same day as their test, whether through scheduled appointments, prescriptions sent directly to the pharmacy, medication pick-ups, or empiric treatment provided immediately based on symptoms and risk factors. For those we cannot treat on-site, our team works to ensure they are linked to appropriate care in the community. This rapid, coordinated approach reflects our commitment to making treatment as accessible, immediate, and barrier-free as possible. TREAMENT 94% of patients received treatment at Kind Clinic. 40% of patients received treatment at time of testing. 6 Mid-Year 2025: Signals, Shifts, and Steps Forward January 2025 - June 2025 The first half of 2025 has already shown emerging trends—both promising and concerning—that underscore the importance of timely testing, early diagnosis, and immediate access to treatment. By sharing these findings with our community, we aim to increase awareness, encourage more people to get tested, and ensure that anyone diagnosed with an STI or HIV can access care without delay. 3,553 – Total STI testing patient visits at Kind Clinic’s Walk-In Testing 539 STI & HIV Reactive Visits Total patient visits that resulted in a diagnosis for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis c 3,014 Non Reactive Visits 15.17% Positivity rate for individuals testing for STIs through Kind Clinic Community Health & Walk-In Testing Program. 7 Mid-Year 2025: Breakdown of STI Diagnoses Percent Breakdown of STI Diagnoses: Reactive Visits Mid-Year 2025 Review 55% (298) 41%, (219) 11% (61) 3% (17) 0.6% (3) Approximately 1 IN 7 patient visits tested reactive for an STI in Central Texas. Percentages for individual STIs add to more than 100% because some patients were diagnosed with more than one infection during the same visit. Each diagnosis is counted separately to reflect the total occurrence of each STI. Data-Driven Interventions and Community Trust Kind Clinic’s approach to HIV and STI care is guided by real-time data from our Walk-In Testing Program and community outreach. By analyzing trends in positivity rates, geographic distribution, and demographic impact, we can target resources to areas and populations with the highest need—ensuring that testing events, outreach, and prevention efforts have the greatest possible impact. More than 90% of individuals who test positive at Kind Clinic choose to receive their treatment with us, demonstrating the trust our patients place in our care model. That trust extends beyond testing and treatment—it reflects years of building strong, affirming relationships with the communities we serve. As we respond to shifting public health needs, this combination of targeted interventions and deep community connection ensures that our services remain both effective and equitable. 8 TREAMENT 95% of patients received treatment at Kind Clinic. 30% of patients received treatment at time of testing. Sustainability & Demand for Services The data from 2024 and the first half of 2025 reveal clear trends: HIV and STI testing and treatment remain a critical healthcare service for the Austin community, particularly among LGBTQIA+ communities and other priority populations. These trends are unfolding against a backdrop of uncertainty. With a new federal administration in 2025, shifts in health policy and funding priorities have put HIV and STI programs nationwide at risk. Changes in federal funding streams, combined with ongoing state-level challenges, threaten to weaken the safety net for communities most impacted. An additional $800,000 in annual support from the City of Austin—beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2027 and beyond—would directly address this growing need. This funding would: • Maintain and grow treatment access so all patients who test positive continue to receive immediate, no-cost care, sustaining our same-day treatment model. Increase outreach to high-risk and underserved communities where positivity rates are highest, ensuring equitable access to testing and treatment. • Sustain a skilled, culturally competent workforce of Community Health • Specialists who ensure same-day linkage to care for HIV and STI diagnoses. • Fund essential testing kits, lab services, and medications to meet rising demand, particularly for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, which account for the majority of diagnoses. Public Health Impact This investment will strengthen Austin’s public health infrastructure and deliver measurable outcomes, including: • Reducing community transmission rates for HIV and other STIs through early detection and treatment. • Maintaining or improving same-day treatment initiation rates (currently 30%). • Lowering long-term healthcare costs by preventing advanced infections and complications. • Closing access gaps for communities disproportionately impacted by HIV and STIs. With the right investment, Austin can expand access to critical testing and treatment services, sustain trust within the communities most impacted, and build the capacity needed to meet both current demand and the challenges ahead. 9 Looking Ahead: Responding to Emerging Trends The trends we see today point to escalating challenges in the near future. In the second half of 2025, rising uninsured rates and higher healthcare costs—along with the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill—will further strain community-based services. In 2026, the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies will make insurance less affordable for thousands of Central Texans, reducing access to care. By 2027, without targeted local investment, STI rates could climb sharply, treatment access could narrow, and disparities could widen. To respond effectively, Austin must commit to multi-year, sustained funding. An annual investment will allow Kind Clinic to continue meeting rising demand, adapt to policy changes, and protect the health of communities most impacted by HIV and STIs—today, in 2026 and 2027, and well into the future. In a period of shifting federal priorities and unstable state funding, Austin has the opportunity—and responsibility—to lead. This funding will preserve access to essential services, uphold the city’s legacy of stepping in when higher levels of government fall short, and keep Central Texas on a path toward better health outcomes for all. 10