According to a new report, funding for HIV prevention has been flat in recent years, although new cases have grown to 60,000 each year.
The report, published by The Kasier Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), was based on a survey of 65 health departments nationwide that have been receiving HIV prevention funding. The survey included every state and territory and six large cities and gives a comprehensive inventory of how funding has been distributed.
In fiscal year 2007, HIV prevention funding administered by state and local health departments reached $587 million, with $337 million of that distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-eight state and local governments also contributed approximately $205 million to HIV prevention.
Since 2004, however, prevention funding has seen little growth, although an estimated 56,000 people still become infected each year. The only exception was an additional $35 million from the CDC in 2007 to expand HIV testing.
The survey found that, as of 2007, investments in HIV prevention in states with the largest population of infected people were relatively small, with only six states having budgets topping $20 million. With the prospect of budget shortfalls, states may have to cut spending on prevention by more than 80 percent.
States may have to resort to cutting core services that health departments generally provide if the lack of funding is not solved. Prevention services such as health education and risk-reduction activities, HIV testing and partner services might not be available due to funding shortfalls.