Velásquez proposes $1.5M budget amendment for HIV and STI testing

City Council Member José Velásquez this week proposed a one-time $1.5 million amendment to the draft Fiscal Year 2023-24 city budget that would fund testing and treatment for STIs, including HIV. “The City of Austin strives to be a welcoming and safe place for its LGBTQIA+ community members. This amendment is intended to address a growing community need for affordable and accessible STI testing and treatment for the city’s most vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by HIV and STIs,” Velásquez’s proposal reads. The funding would be distributed to organizations that offer low-cost/free walk-in testing – as well as telemedicine and mobile testing – for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C. Eligible organizations would also need to also offer same-day STI treatment that is low cost or free; HIV medical care and treatment initiation available within 72 hours of a new diagnosis; and access to PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis). Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri, Alison Alter and Chito Vela co-sponsored the amendment. According to a news release from Texas Health Action, Council earlier this week saw a community health presentation compiled by sexual health organization Kind Clinic. The report noted that from 2021 to 2022, demand for STI testing increased heavily at both Kind Clinic (up 176 percent) and Austin Public Health’s STI Clinic (which saw a 38 percent increase in patients). The amendment also would direct the city manager “to prioritize funding allocation for community organization-based HIV/STI testing and treatment in future budget proposals.”