Assessing Changes in Insurance Status and Access to Care Among Patients Attending Chicago Sexually Transmitted Infection Specialty Clinics From 2013 to 2019.

Background: Public sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics are safety net providers for uninsured and underinsured individuals but are at risk for closure due to declining budgets and shifting priorities. This study sought to assess changes in insurance status and access to preventive care among public STI clinic patients after immediate and long-term implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Methods: Patients receiving care in STI clinics administered by Chicago Department of Public Health were asked to complete an anonymous survey in 2013, 2014, and 2019.

Lessons Learned From a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Virtual Partner Services Technical Assistance Pilot Project to Respond to a Local Syphilis Outbreak.

A virtual partner services technical assistance (TA) project was piloted with the Minnesota Department of Health to address an ongoing syphilis outbreak. The TA reduced the health department's disease intervention specialist workload, achieved partner services outcomes comparable with in-person methods, and identified lessons learned to replicate with other jurisdictions.

Increased HIV diagnoses in West Virginia counties highly vulnerable to rapid HIV dissemination through injection drug use: a cautionary tale.

Purpose: To investigate HIV transmission potential from a cluster of HIV infections among men who have sex with men to persons who inject drugs in 15 West Virginia counties. These counties were previously identified as highly vulnerable to rapid HIV dissemination through injection drug use (IDU) associated with high levels of opioid misuse.

Methods: We interviewed persons with 2017 HIV diagnoses about past-year risk behaviors and elicited sexual, IDU, and social contacts.

Implementing an HIV and sexually transmitted disease screening program in an emergency department.

Study Objective: We assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of routinely recommended HIV/sexually transmitted disease screening in an urban emergency department (ED).

Methods: From April 2003 to August 2004, patients aged 15 to 54 years were offered rapid HIV testing, and those aged 15 to 25 years were also offered gonorrhea and chlamydia testing (nucleic acid amplification), Monday through Friday, 11 am to 8 pm. Infected patients were referred for treatment and care.

Interventions in the commercial sex industry during the rise in syphilis rates among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Objective: Describe sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus prevention interventions targeting men who have sex with men (MSM) in commercial sex venues (CSV).

Study: Compilation of descriptive and evaluation data from the CDC 8-city MSM Syphilis Response on interventions conducted in bathhouses/sex clubs, circuit parties, the Internet, male sex workers, and the adult film industry.

Results: Interventions in the commercial sex industry (CSI) often involved multiple collaborative efforts between public health departments (PHD), community-based organizations (CBO), and CSV owners and managers.

Activities to increase provider awareness of early syphilis in men who have sex with men in 8 cities, 2000-2004.

Objective: Describe provider awareness campaigns undertaken in response to syphilis epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: Descriptive data from 8 cities facing MSM syphilis epidemics was compiled.

Results: Provider awareness efforts included medical alerts, provider visits, lectures to providers on symptom recognition and treatment, and ongoing provision of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) morbidity information through mailings, visits, and e-mail communications.