April is the annual STD Awareness Month, a campaign to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases and encourage everyone to “Know the Facts and GYT: Get Yourself Tested.” It’s a joint effort from the Kaiser Family Foundation, MTV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others.
Coincidentally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this month that Medicare will now cover an annual HIV test for all people ages 15 to 65 regardless of their risk. Those who are younger or older but may be at increased risk may also get an HIV screening.
Pregnant Medicare beneficiaries will be covered for a maximum of three voluntary HIV tests: once they know they’re pregnant, when they’re in the third trimester, and during labor, if the woman’s clinician orders the test.
Although the AIDS Institute praised the new coverage, some advocates may question whether one test a year is enough for at-risk populations.
After all, the CDC recommends that “anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).”
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