Health Update: New STD Legislation and Updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention
County of Santa Clara
Public Health Department
Health Officer
976 Lenzen Avenue, 2nd Floor
San Jose, CA 95126
HEALTH UPDATE: New STD Legislation and Updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention
DATE:
January 25, 2022
TO:
All Healthcare Providers
FROM:
Sarah L. Rudman, MD, MPH
STD/HIV Controller
Young people and adults in Santa Clara County continue to be affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more challenging for many communities to access care. This increases the need to ramp up screening, testing, and linkage to care services. This Health Update serves three goals: (1) to increase awareness among primary care clinics and general acute care hospitals of recent California legislative approval of two important bills, (2) to increase awareness of the CDC updated Clinical Practice Guideline for PrEP, and (3) to provide resources as you implement these new policy provisions within your clinical practice.
Effective January 1, 2022, Senate Bill 306, the STD Coverage and Care Act, and Assembly Bill 789 aim to strengthen the STD public health infrastructure in California and to make the Golden State the first in the nation to provide adults voluntary screenings for both hepatitis B and C. See below for additional information:
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Policy
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Purpose
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What This Means for Any Modifications to Clinical Practices
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What You Should Do Now
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SB 306
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Expands access to STI testing and treatment
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- Requires health plans to cover at-home test kits for HIV and STIs
- Increases the number of providers that can provide STI testing in the community; Allows LGBTQ patients to access Family PACT STD services
- Supports the delivery of expedited partner therapy, which allows patients to obtain STI treatment for their partners
- Requires syphilis screening during both the first and third trimester of pregnancy
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AB 789
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Expands access to hepatitis B and C screening
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- Requires all primary care providers to offer screening tests for hepatitis B and C at routine medical appointments, to the extent these services are covered under the patient’s health insurance
- Care and treatment provided for those who test positive
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- Implement these requirements in accordance with the description in the CDPH All-Facilities Letter
- Facilitate conversations with clinical staff or colleagues regarding changes to clinical practices
- Consider providing a patient notification letter to address newly signed bill and its implications for patients
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Additionally, on December 8, 2021, the CDC released the Clinical Practice Guideline for Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention and Clinical Providers Supplement. The updated guideline provides health care providers with evidence-based recommendations on prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention to their patients and increasing PrEP use by people who could benefit from it. Please access the following fact sheet for key PrEP guideline revisions.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department’s STD/HIV Prevention & Control Program is here to support you and your organizations in implementing these new requirements. Please contact us at 408-792-3720 with any questions or visit GetTestedSCC.org to access local County resources.
Additional Resources
Santa Clara County Resources
- The Crane Center for STI clinic and testing services: 408-792-3720 or GetTestedSCC.org
- STI Investigation for HIV and syphilis history and disease reporting: 408-792-3739
- HIV Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) Navigation: 408-792-3750
- Positive Connections for HIV client support and linkage: 408-792-5080
- Harm Reduction Program for syringe access and overdose prevention: 408-792-5529
- Santa Clara County Getting to Zero: GettingToZeroSCC.org