Some context
Kind Clinic specializes in serving the LGBTQIA+ community at no cost to patients. The inaugural report indicates the need for the clinic's community health program saw an increase in patients by 176% in 2022 compared to the demand in 2021. During this same time period, sexual health experts at the clinic said from the time the clinic opened in 2015 until Jan. 1, 2022, THA received most of its funding through a medication reimbursement program; however, $9.2 million of the funding was cut in 2022 by a major manufacturer of HIV prevention and treatment medications, according to a news release issued July 11. This caused THA to lose $9.2 million in revenue and impacted the program's ability to provide free testing to the community, officials said in the news release.
“Community health programs that provide safe and affirming spaces are experiencing an increased demand, especially here in Austin,” THA CEO Christopher Hamilton said. “There is already a critical lack of federal funding for STI prevention and treatment for local public health departments. This leaves providers like THA, that specialize in care for LGBTQIA+ people, in a bind. If this continues, our community risks a public health crisis.”Zooming in
A spokesperson for Kind Clinic said the funding was cut by a company called Gilead.
In a statement, Gilead said it updated its reimbursement structure for its free drug program in 2022 as it was actually reimbursing clinics for more than they spent.
"This update puts a spotlight on the inequitable distribution of federal and state resources for HIV treatment and prevention services across the U.S.—resulting in organizations needing to rely on a patchwork approach of government programs, industry initiatives and charitable endeavors to support access to essential HIV wraparound services."
According to the report, while THA provides additional STI testing beyond just HIV, the Department of State Health Services only provides funds for Kind Clinic’s HIV testing. There is no local, state or federal funding for the additional STI testing that Kind Clinic offers at no cost to patients who utilize the walk-in testing.
Officials said Kind Clinic remains operational solely because of reserves and “rainy day” funds THA has set aside over the years to fund its operations.
Austin's LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study shows there are gaps in testing—not just in the LGBTQIA+ population, but throughout the Austin community. Out of the 11,260 patients tested by the clinic in 2022, 2,294 tested positive for STIs. The report also shows nearly 95% of those individuals chose to receive treatment at Kind Clinic.
“We have seen a staggering number of positive STI test results in Austin over the past year,” said Dr. Sandra Guerra, chief medical officer for Texas Health Action. “When we see rates like this, it is imperative that those individuals and their partners receive immediate treatment to reduce the risk of complications to a person’s health and reduce the opportunity of transmission to others. At Kind Clinic, we have the ability to treat those individuals in a timely manner, and to continue providing them with follow up sexual health care beyond that initial STI treatment.”Zooming out
Steven Tamayo, director of community health for THA, said fear of discrimination and insensitivity from health care providers historically has led many LGBTQIA+ patients to delay or avoid care. The quality of life study also found that due to prior negative experiences with health care providers, many people never seek treatment or care.
“Stigma surrounding sexual health care compounded by the discrimination LGBTQIA+ individuals face in our state leads many members of the queer community to avoid seeking the care they need,” Tamayo said. “Kind Clinic recognizes the trauma that comes from negative health care experiences and provides a safe, affirming space to receive STI testing and treatment.”
One more thing
According to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce website, Austin's projected growth rate from 2020-2030 is 27.8%, well above the state's rate of 12.9%, the spokesperson said. With the expected population growth in Austin, Texas Health Action anticipates the need for an increase in funding for STI testing and treatment to keep up with the increasing rates of STIs, the spokesperson said.
Learn more
In May, Austin-area health experts began encouraging individuals to take advantage of the resources provided by places such as Kind Clinic to protect their sexual health and prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs. For more information about Kind Clinic, call 1-833-937-5463.
