The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is being forced to end some of its services for individuals with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
According to a health department media release, recent executive orders and policy shifts under the Trump administration have left local health officials with no choice but to “significantly modify” the care they can provide.
Nearly $1.3 million in funding has been cut, officials said. That money funded the following services, which are no longer available:
- The Mobile Testing Unit, which provided free STI and HIV testing at various locations throughout Long Beach
- STI and HIV testing services at the Ron Arias Health Equity Center
- STI and HIV outreach and engagement services, including PrEP navigation assistance
- The Sexual and Social Network, which provided outreach, education and testing to social and sexual networks of high-risk individuals
The Long Beach Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinic, located at 2525 Grand Avenue, is still offering comprehensive sexual health services, including testing, PrEP and PEP and STI treatment for a fee, with sliding or reduced fees based on income. Walk-ins are available; however, officials recommend making an appointment.
According to health department officials, nearly 4,000 Long Beach residents have HIV or AIDS. There was a 5.8% reduction in HIV rates throughout the city from 2023 to 2024, the health department says, as well as a 70% rate of viral suppression for individuals with HIV in 2023.
“Long Beach is not alone in experiencing these impacts due to loss of federal funding,” the health department said. “Reductions to programs were also seen across the country and regionally in Los Angeles County, which provides health services to those outside Long Beach. The City of Long Beach is committed to keeping the community informed of the ongoing developments related to the loss, and possible future loss, of federal funding and its impacts on local programs provided by the City.”
A full list of community partnerships that may have testing and screening services is available at www.longbeach.gov/stitesting.
For more information on how federal funding impacts the City of Long Beach, visit www.longbeach.gov/FedFundingUpdates.
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