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HIV Testing Trends Among Persons with Commercial Insurance or Medicaid — United States, 2014–2019

CDC Media Relations
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HIV testing rates for people with commercial health insurance and people with Medicaid increased from 2014 to 2019 but more testing is needed to reduce health disparities and achieve the HHS Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative goal of 95% of all people with HIV being aware of their HIV status by 2025. CDC used data from MarketScan and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to estimate HIV testing trends among people with commercial insurance and people with Medicaid from 2014 to 2019. Race/ethnicity data are only available from and, therefore are reported only for, those with Medicaid. Overall, HIV testing rates increased among men and non-pregnant women aged 13 and older with commercial insurance and with Medicaid during this five-year period. In 2019, only 4% of people with commercial insurance and 6% of people with Medicaid were tested for HIV. HIV testing rates were higher among Medicaid recipients compared with people with commercial insurance. Among persons with Medicaid, HIV testing rates were higher among Black/African-American people and Hispanic/Latino people compared with white people. But even among these groups, the rates were lower than what would be needed to achieve the goal of 95% of all people with HIV being aware of their HIV status by 2025. HIV testing is an entry point for HIV prevention and care. Interventions to increase routine and risk-based HIV testing in clinical settings are needed to address disparities and achieve Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. goals.

Need for Contraceptive Services Among Women of Reproductive Age — 45 Jurisdictions, United States, 2017–2019

CDC Media Relations
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Understanding the need for contraceptive services can help states and local jurisdictions plan programs, policies, and services to support women and their partners in choosing whether and when to become pregnant. This analysis of data from 45 jurisdictions, collected through CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, can be used to inform planning of programs and policies to increase contraception access and services. During 2017–2019, 61% of women 18-49 years had ongoing or potential need for contraceptive services, defined as women at risk for unintended pregnancy who were not using permanent contraception. There was wide variation in women’s need for contraceptive services by jurisdiction, age group, race/ethnicity, and urban/rural status. Overall, nearly one-third (30%) of women with ongoing or potential need were not using any method of contraception at last sexual encounter. Ensuring access to contraceptive services is important to prevent unintended pregnancies and promote equitable reproductive health.

COVID-19 Surveillance and Investigations in Workplaces — Seattle and King County, Washington, June 15–November 15, 2020

CDC Media Relations
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A report by Public Health–Seattle & King County (PHSKC) and the Washington Department of Health describes how workplace investigations of COVID-19 were prioritized based on workplace and workforce features associated with SARS-CoV-2 spread and with severe disease outcomes. These investigations uncovered contacts not previously elicited during patient interviews and cases not previously linked to the workplace. The study demonstrates the importance of conducting workplace investigations in addition to case interviews to limit the potential workplace spread of the  virus that causes COVID-19. To enhance COVID-19 contact tracing and identify workplace outbreaks, PHSKC established a COVID-19 workplace surveillance and response system in May 2020. During June 15–November 15, 2020, almost 3,000 workplaces (excluding health care, educational, childcare, correctional, and congregate living facilities) reported at least one case of COVID-19. A workplace investigation involved working with occupational health services, human resources, or managers to identify all cases and contacts, assessing workplace adherence to COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines, and responding to outbreaks. Among more than 1,300 (45%) investigated workplaces, 524 (40%) outbreaks met the definition of a workplace outbreak. An average of four employee COVID-19 cases were identified per outbreak, with an average attack rate (cases divided by total on-site workforce) among employees of 18%. The Washington Department of Health established a classification scheme to prioritize workplace investigations as high, medium, or low priority, based on workplace features associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 spread and workforce features associated with severe disease outcomes. High-priority investigations were significantly more likely than were medium- and low-priority investigations to have two or more cases among employees, two or more cases not previously linked to the workplace, or two or more exposed workplace contacts identified who were not previously elicited during patient interviews. Findings from the study showed that workplace investigations can enhance the effectiveness of contact tracing and identification of workplace outbreaks, which can inform the implementation of strategies to prevent the spread of the  virus that causes COVID-19. Prioritizing workplace investigations based on workplace and workforce characteristics gathered during patient interviews can produce more timely and effective investigations in settings with limited resources. Workplace investigations can also serve as an opportunity to provide guidance on preventing workplace COVID-19 exposures, facilitate access to vaccines, and strengthen collaborations between public health and businesses.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Adults — United States, December 14, 2020–May 22, 2021 (Early Release June 21, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Intent Among Adults Aged 18–39 Years — United States, March–May 2021 (Early Release June 21, 2021)

CDC Media Relations
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• Percentage of Adults Who Did Not Get Needed Dental Care Because of Cost in the Past 12 Months, by Age Group and Sex — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2019

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.