They got a letter over the weekend from the Department of State Health Services saying not to do any more testing until they get funding from the CDC.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio AIDS foundation has to put a hold on testing after a pause in funding.
The foundation says it will last only this week, but says their funding comes from the CDC and the Department of State Health Services.
The foundation says the funding covers more than half of tests and services they provide a year.
The foundation says they got a letter from the Department of State Health Services saying to stop testing until they get funding from the CDC.
“I’m assuming it’s a fiscal decision on the part of the state that they can’t promise that they’re going to have funds available to pay us so we need to stop,” said Cherise Rohr Allegrini, San Antonio Aids Foundation CEO.
Allegrini says they average 375 tests a month for HIV, syphillis amd chlaymdia.
With funding from the CDC they’ve done 995 tests this year.
“We’re not the only ones. Every agency in the state that has these issued funds and most of the agencies like ours, they received the same letter,” said Allegrini.
We reached out to the Department of State Health Services and their staff provided a statement saying the existing funding they had expired at the end of the month and are waiting to hear from the CDC about those funds being renewed for another contract period.
The department added they don’t know if and when this will happen.
I’m hopeful that this is a temporary pause and we’ll be able to move on, but, but given the circumstances and our federal government and the chance to [provide] HIV care and support, it is really concerning,” said Allegrini.
The San Antonio AIDS Foundation does have funding outside of the CDC and is working to provide tests again next week, but says they may be limited in how many they can give out.
This news coming at the start of pride month.
“It’s a really bad message. HIV impacts everybody, not just LGBTQ folks, but that is our primary population, and at a time when we should be celebrating our community, we’re looking at funding cuts that directly impact the health of our community,” said Allegrini.
To support the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, you can donate by going to their website.