The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is being forced to terminate some of its services for patients with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
According to a media release from the Health Bureau, recent executive orders and policy changes under the Trump administration have left local health officials with no choice but to “significantly change” the care they can provide.
Authorities said nearly $1.3 million in funding had been cut. The money funded the following services, which are no longer available:
Long Beach STI and Ron Arias Health Equity Center Mobile testing unit offering free STI and HIV testing at various locations in STI and HIV outreach and engagement services.
The Long Beach Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinic, located at 2525 Grand Avenue, reduces or reduces fees based on income and still offers comprehensive sexual health services, including testing, PREP, PEP and STI treatments. Walk-in is available. However, authorities have encouraged appointments.
About 4,000 long beach residents have HIV or AIDS, according to health ministry officials. From 2023 to 2024, the citywide HIV rate fell by 5.8%, according to the Health Department, the virus suppression rate among HIV patients in 2023 was 70%.
“Long Beach is not only experiencing these effects from a loss of federal funding,” the Health Department said. “The program cuts have been seen nationwide and locally in Los Angeles County, which provides health services to people outside of Long Beach. The city of Long Beach is committed to informing the community of ongoing developments related to the impact the city has on local programs it offers, as well as the possibility of future losses and potential future losses.”
A full list of community partnerships that may receive testing and screening services is available at www.longbeach.gov/stitesting.
For more information about how federal funding affects the city of Long Beach, visit www.longbeach.gov/fedfundingupdates.
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