HIV Prevention Practices and Non-Federal Funding Among U.S. States and Non-State Regions: A Survey of HIV/AIDS Directors.

We surveyed U.S. HIV/AIDS directors or designees in states and non-state regions, regarding factors influencing HIV viral suppression: (1) non-federal prevention funding; (2) contacting newly reported patients and providers, for care linkage and partner services; (3) follow-up of non-received viral load reports, to identify untreated patients; and (4) genotype/phenotype surveillance, to monitor drug resistance. The survey was conducted April-July 2015; 50 (87.7%) participated. Eighty percent of jurisdictions contacted all newly reported patients; 60% contacted all providers. HIV resistance tests were reportable in 38%; 66% contacted providers and/or patients about missed viral loads. Non-federal funding was significantly associated with annual diagnoses (p = .0001) and population (p = .0002), but not with other factors studied. Many jurisdictions lacked non-federal funding (28%), or experienced unrestored reductions since 2008 (33%). Jurisdictions' funding and preventive practices varied greatly. HIV viral suppression could be enhanced by restoring (or establishing) non-federal prevention funding, and by more standardized surveillance/outreach practices.

Assessing Differences in CDC-Funded HIV Testing by Urbanicity, United States, 2016.

HIV prevention efforts have contributed to a decline in annual HIV infections in the United States. However, progress has been uneven and certain groups and geographic areas continue to be disproportionately affected. Subsequent to implementation of CDC's high-impact HIV prevention approach to reducing new infections, we analyzed national-level CDC-funded HIV test data from 2016 to describe the population being reached in three urbanicity settings (metropolitan: ≥ 1,000,000 population; urban: 50,000-999,999; rural: < 50,000). Over 70% of CDC-funded HIV tests and almost 80% of persons newly diagnosed with HIV as a result of CDC-funded testing occurred in metropolitan areas. Nonetheless, CDC-funded testing efforts are reaching urban and rural areas, especially in the South, providing opportunities to identify persons unaware of their HIV status and link those with newly diagnosed HIV to medical care and prevention services. While CDC-funded testing efforts have continued to focus on population subgroups and geographic areas at greatest risk, efforts should also continue in rural areas and among groups in need with a low national burden.

Social franchising of community-based HIV testing and linkage to HIV care and treatment services: an evaluation of a pilot study in Tshwane, South Africa.

INTRODUCTION: Although HIV testing services (HTS) have been successfully task-shifted to lay counsellors, no model has tested the franchising of HTS to lay counsellors as independent small-scale business owners. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a social franchisee (SF) HTS-managed pilot project compared to the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) employee-managed HTS programme in testing and linking clients to care. METHODS: Unemployed, formally employed or own business individuals were engaged as franchisees, trained and supported to deliver HTS services under a common brand in high HIV-prevalent communities in Tshwane district between 2016 and 2017. SFs were remunerated per-HIV test and received larger payments per-HIV-positive client linked to care. In the standard HTS, FPD employed counsellors received similar training and observed similar standards as in the SF HTS, but were remunerated through the normal payroll. We assessed the proportion of clients tested, HIV positivity, linkage to care and per-counsellor cost of HIV test and linkage to care in the two HTS groups. RESULTS: The SF HTS had 19 HIV counsellors while FPD HTS employed 20. A combined total of 84,556 clients were tested by SFs (50.5%: 95% confidence interval (CI) 50.2 to 50.8)) and FPD (49.5%: 49.2 to 49.8). SFs tested more females than FPD (54.1%: 53.6 to 54.6 vs. 48%: 47.7 to 48.7). SFs identified more first-time testers than FPD (21.5%: 21.1 to 21.9 vs. 8.9%: 8.6 to 9.1). Overall, 8%: 7.9 to 8.2 tested positive with more clients testing positive in the SF (10.2%: 9.9 to 10.5) than FPD (5.9%: 5.6 to 6.1) group. The SFs identified more female HIV-positive clients (11.1%: 10.7 to 11.6) than FPD (6.5%: 6.2 to 6.9). The SFs linked fewer clients to HIV care and treatment (60.0%: 58.5 to 61.5) than FPD (80.3%: 78.7 to 81.9%). It cost four times less to conduct an HIV test using SFs ($3.90 per SF HIV test) than FPD ($13.98) and five times less to link a client to care with SFs ($62.74) than FPD ($303.13). CONCLUSIONS: SF HTS was effective in identifying more clients, first-time HIV testers and more HIV-positive people, but less effective in linking clients to care than FPD HTS. The SF HTS model was cheaper than the FPD-employee model. We recommend strengthening SFs particularly their linkage to care activities.

Cost-Effectiveness of Voluntary HIV Testing Strategies in a Very Low-Prevalence Country, the Republic of Korea.

BACKGROUND: The Republic of Korea has a very low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the number of new HIV diagnoses has steadily risen, strongly indicating a large number of undetected HIV infections. Thus, it is important for Korean public health authorities to adopt and encourage cost-effective HIV detection tools, such as rapid HIV screening tests. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and rapid tests in a public health center (PHC) setting. METHODS: We developed a decision analytic model to assess the per-examinee cost and the cost-effectiveness of identifying HIV patients in a PHC setting using two HIV testing strategies: conventional HIV screening by ELISA versus rapid HIV testing. Analysis was performed in two scenarios: HIV testing in an average-risk population and in a high-risk population. RESULTS: Compared to the ELISA, the rapid test was cost-saving and cost-effective. The per-examinee cost was USD 1.61 with rapid testing versus USD 3.38 with ELISA in an average-risk population, and USD 4.77 with rapid testing versus USD 7.62 with ELISA in a high-risk population. The cost of identifying a previously undiagnosed HIV case was USD 26,974 with rapid testing versus USD 42,237 with ELISA in an average-risk population, and USD 153 with rapid testing versus USD 183 with ELISA in a high-risk population. CONCLUSION: Rapid testing would be more cost-effective than using conventional ELISA testing for identifying previously undiagnosed HIV-infected cases in Korea, a country with extremely low HIV prevalence.

The Cost and Cost-utility of Three Public Health HIV Case-finding Strategies: Evidence from Rhode Island, 2012-2014.

To evaluate three testing strategies to identify new HIV diagnoses in Rhode Island (RI). RI deployed three testing strategies, by using rapid HIV tests at clinical settings, community-based organization (CBO) settings, and the Partner Notification Services (PNS) program from 2012 to 2014. We reviewed the rapid HIV test results and confirmatory test results to identify new diagnoses, and conducted a cost-utility analysis. The average cost per new diagnosis was $33,015 at CBO settings, $5446 at clinical settings, and $33,818 at the PNS program. The cost-utility analysis showed the state-wide program was cost-saving; testing was cost-saving at clinical settings, and cost-effective at CBO settings and the PNS program. Further analyses showed that cost-effectiveness varied widely across CBOs. The HIV testing expansion program in RI was cost-saving overall. The heterogeneity of cost-effectiveness across settings should provide guidance to officials for allocation of future resources to HIV testing.

Comparison of turnaround time and total cost of HIV testing before and after implementation of the 2014 CDC/APHL Laboratory Testing Algorithm for diagnosis of HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Updated recommendations for HIV diagnostic laboratory testing published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of Public Health Laboratories incorporate 4th generation HIV immunoassays, which are capable of identifying HIV infection prior to seroconversion. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare turnaround time and cost between 3rd and 4th generation HIV immunoassay-based testing algorithms for initially reactive results. STUDY DESIGN: The clinical microbiology laboratory database at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN was queried for 3rd generation (from November 2012 to May 2014) and 4th generation (from May 2014 to November 2015) HIV immunoassay results. All results from downstream supplemental testing were recorded. Turnaround time (defined as the time of initial sample receipt in the laboratory to the time the final supplemental test in the algorithm was resulted) and cost (based on 2016 Medicare reimbursement rates) were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 76,454 and 78,998 initial tests were performed during the study period using the 3rd generation and 4th generation HIV immunoassays, respectively. There were 516 (0.7%) and 581 (0.7%) total initially reactive results, respectively. Of these, 304 (58.9%) and 457 (78.7%) were positive by supplemental testing. There were 10 (0.01%) cases of acute HIV infection identified with the 4th generation algorithm. The most frequent tests performed to confirm an HIV-positive case using the 3rd generation algorithm, which were reactive initial immunoassay and positive HIV-1 Western blot, took a median time of 1.1 days to complete at a cost of $45.00. In contrast, the most frequent tests performed to confirm an HIV-positive case using the 4th generation algorithm, which included a reactive initial immunoassay and positive HIV-1/-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay for HIV-1, took a median time of 0.4 days and cost $63.25. Overall median turnaround time was 2.2 and 1.5 days, and overall median cost was $63.90 and $72.50 for 3rd and 4th generation algorithms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both 3rd and 4th generation HIV immunoassays had similar total numbers of tests performed and positivity rates during the study period. A greater proportion of reactive 4th generation immunoassays were confirmed to be positive, and the 4th generation algorithm identified several cases of acute HIV infection that would have been missed by the 3rd generation algorithm. The 4th generation algorithm had a more rapid turnaround time but higher cost for confirmed positive HIV infections and overall, compared to the 3rd generation algorithm.

Cost-utility of HIV Testing Programs Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States.

Few groups in the United States (US) are as heavily affected by HIV as men who have sex with men (MSM), yet many MSM remain unaware of their infection. HIV diagnosis is important for decreasing onward transmission and promoting effective treatment for HIV, but the cost-effectiveness of testing programs is not well-established. This study reports on the costs and cost-utility of the MSM Testing Initiative (MTI) to newly diagnose HIV among MSM and link them to medical care. Cost and testing data in 15 US cities from January 2013 to March 2014 were prospectively collected and combined to determine the cost-utility of MTI in each city in terms of the cost per Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) saved from payer and societal perspectives. The total venue-based HIV testing costs ranged from $18,759 to $564,284 for nine to fifteen months of MTI implementation. The cost-saving threshold for HIV testing of MSM was $20,645 per new HIV diagnosis. Overall, 27,475 men were tested through venue-based MTI, of whom 807 (3 %) were newly diagnosed with HIV. These new diagnoses were associated with approximately 47 averted HIV infections. The cost per QALY saved by implementation of MTI in each city was negative, indicating that MTI venue-based testing was cost-saving in all cities. The cost-utility of social network and couples testing strategies was, however, dependent on whether the programs newly diagnosed MSM. The cost per new HIV diagnosis varied considerably across cities and was influenced by both the local cost of MSM testing implementation and by the seropositivity rate of those reached by the HIV testing program. While the cost-saving threshold for HIV testing is highly achievable, testing programs must successfully reach undiagnosed HIV-positive individuals in order to be cost-effective. This underscores the need for HIV testing programs which target and engage populations such as MSM who are most likely to have undiagnosed HIV to maximize programmatic benefit and cost-utility.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Funded Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing, Positivity, and Service Delivery among Newly Diagnosed Women in 61 Health Department Jurisdictions, United States, 2014.

BACKGROUND: More than 1.2 million persons are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States; at the end of 2011, 23% of them were women. Minority women are disproportionately affected by HIV, and new infections are higher among older women. HIV testing and service delivery among women funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is examined. METHODS: Data were submitted by 61 health department jurisdictions. HIV testing, HIV-positive tests, new HIV diagnoses among women, and linkage and referral services among newly diagnosed women are described. Differences across demographic characteristics for HIV diagnoses, linkage, and referral services were assessed. Diagnoses were identified as new when women who tested HIV positive were not found to be reported previously in the jurisdiction's HIV surveillance system; when jurisdictions could not verify prior test results in their surveillance systems, new diagnoses were identified by self-report. RESULTS: Of CDC-funded testing events in 2014, 1,484,902 (48.7%) were among women, and they accounted for 19.5% of all HIV-positive testing events. Among women tested, 0.4% were HIV positive, and 0.1% had new HIV diagnoses. Women aged 40 and older and Black women were more likely to test HIV positive (0.7% and 0.5%, respectively). Among newly diagnosed women, 62.8% were linked within any timeframe, 57.1% were linked within 90 days, 74.1% were referred to partner services, 57.5% were interviewed for partner services, and 55.5% were referred to HIV risk reduction services. CONCLUSIONS: Among all women receiving CDC-funded HIV testing, Black women and older women were more likely to have HIV-positive tests and new diagnoses. Although women overall may not be at the highest risk for HIV, Black women in this sample are disproportionately affected. Additionally, linkage, referral, and interview services for women need improvement. Targeted testing approaches may ensure effective test-and-treat strategies for women.

Unmet HIV Service Needs Among Hispanic Men who Have Sex with Men in the United States.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) originally issued in 2010 targets the reduction of HIV-related health disparities. Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) have the third highest burden of incident HIV in the US, but there are no estimates of the unmet HIV service needs for Hispanic MSM. We estimate that of approximately 204,800 Hispanic MSM living with HIV, roughly 46,900 were undiagnosed. 157,900 were diagnosed, and of those, 75,700 were not linked to care and 82,200 were linked. Among diagnosed individuals, 48,800 had undetectable viral loads, and 109,100 had detectable viral loads. An estimated 30,000 of diagnosed Hispanic MSM engage in unprotected, serodiscordant risk behaviors. Total cost to meet service needs and achieve NHAS goals is ~$2.511 billion in 2011 US dollars. Transmission rate modeling suggests this investment would avert 3656 new HIV infections at an economically favorable cost of $61,202 per quality-adjusted life year saved.

Estimates of CDC-Funded and National HIV Diagnoses: A Comparison by Demographic and HIV-related Factors.

To determine whether CDC-funded HIV testing programs are reaching persons disproportionately affected by HIV infection. The percentage distribution for HIV testing and diagnoses by demographics and transmission risk group (diagnoses only) were calculated using 2013 data from CDC's National HIV Surveillance System and CDC's national HIV testing program data. In 2013, nearly 3.2 million CDC-funded tests were provided to persons aged 13 years and older. Among persons who received a CDC-funded test, 41.1 % were aged 20-29 years; 49.2 % were male, 46.2 % were black/African American, and 56.2 % of the tests were conducted in the South. Compared with the characteristics of all persons diagnosed with HIV in the United States in 2013, among persons diagnosed as a result of CDC-funded tests, a higher percentage were aged 20-29 years (40.3 vs 33.7 %) and black/African American (55.3 vs 46.0 %). CDC-funded HIV testing programs are reaching young people and blacks/African Americans.

Scaling up of HIV treatment for men who have sex with men in Bangkok: a modelling and costing study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Bangkok, little investment in HIV prevention for MSM has been made. HIV testing and treatment coverage remains low. Through a pragmatic programme-planning approach, we assess possible service linkage and provision of HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment (ART) to MSM in Bangkok, and the most cost-effective scale-up strategy. METHODS: We obtained epidemiological and service capacity data from the Thai National Health Security Office database for 2011. We surveyed 13 representative medical facilities for detailed operational costs of HIV-related services for sexually active MSM (defined as having sex with men in the past 12 months) in metropolitan Bangkok. We estimated the costs of various ART scale-up scenarios, accounting for geographical accessibility across Bangkok. We used an HIV transmission population-based model to assess the cost-effectiveness of the scenarios. FINDINGS: For present HIV testing (23% [95% CI 17-36] of MSM at high risk in 2011) and ART provision (20% of treatment-eligible MSM at high risk on ART in 2011) to be sustained, a US$73·8 million ($51·0 million to $97·0 million) investment during the next decade would be needed, which would link an extra 43,000 (27,900-58,000) MSM at high risk to HIV testing and 5100 (3500-6700) to ART, achieving an ART coverage of 44% for MSM at high risk in 2022. An additional $55·3 million investment would link an extra 46,700 (30,300-63,200) MSM to HIV testing and 12,600 (8800-16,600) to ART, achieving universal ART coverage of this population by 2022. This increased investment is achievable within present infrastructure capacity. Consequently, an estimated 5100 (3600-6700) HIV-related deaths and 3700 (2600-4900) new infections could be averted in MSM by 2022, corresponding to a 53% reduction in deaths and a 35% reduction in infections from 2012 levels. The expansion would cost an estimated $10,809 (9071-13,274) for each HIV-related death, $14,783 (12,389-17,960) per new infection averted, and $351 (290-424) per disability-adjusted life-year averted. INTERPRETATION: Spare capacity in Bangkok's medical facilities can be used to expand ART access for MSM with large epidemiological benefits. The expansion needs increased funding directed to MSM services, but given the epidemiological trends, is probably cost effective. Our modelling approach and outcomes are likely to be applicable to other settings. FUNDING: World Bank Group and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Cost analysis of a novel HIV testing strategy in community pharmacies and retail clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To document the cost of implementing point-of-care (POC) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rapid testing in busy community pharmacies and retail clinics. Providing HIV testing services in community pharmacies and retail clinics is an innovative way to expand HIV testing. The cost of implementing POC HIV rapid testing in a busy retail environment needs to be documented to provide program and policy leaders with adequate information for planning and budgeting. DESIGN: Cost analysis from a pilot project that provided confidential POC HIV rapid testing services in community pharmacies and retail clinics. SETTING: The pharmacy sites were operated under several different ownership structures (for-profit, nonprofit, sole proprietorship, corporation, public, and private) in urban and rural areas. We included data from the initial six sites that participated in the project. We collected the time spent by pharmacy and retail clinic staff for pretest and posttest counseling in an activity log for time-in-motion for each interaction. PARTICIPANTS: Pharmacists and retail clinic staff. INTERVENTION: HIV rapid testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The total cost was calculated to include costs of test kits, control kits, shipping, test supplies, training, reporting, program administration, and advertising. RESULTS: The six sites trained 22 staff to implement HIV testing. A total of 939 HIV rapid tests were conducted over a median time of 12 months, of which 17 were reactive. Median pretest counseling time was 2 minutes. Median posttest counseling time was 2 minutes for clients with a nonreactive test and 10 minutes for clients with a reactive test. The average cost per person tested was an estimated $47.21. When we considered only recurrent costs, the average cost per person tested was $32.17. CONCLUSIONS: Providing POC HIV rapid testing services required a modest amount of staff time and costs that are comparable to other services offered in these settings. HIV testing in pharmacies and retail clinics can provide an additional alternative venue for increasing the availability and accessibility of HIV testing services in the United States.

Saúde nas fronteiras: análise quantitativa e qualitativa da clientela do Centro Materno Infantil de Foz do Iguaçu, Brasil / Health at the border: quantitative and qualitative analysis of patients treated at the Maternal and Child Care Center in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Resumo Foz do Iguaçu participa do SIS-Fronteiras e instalou o Centro Materno Infantil (CMI), ofertando atendimento ao pré-natal das gestantes brasileiras moradoras no Paraguai (brasiguaias). Para analisar as características do CMI e comparar o perfil de brasiguaias com gestantes brasileiras residentes no Brasil, conciliou-se abordagem quanti-qualitativa na metodologia. Verificou-se que gestantes brasiguaias atendidas no CMI procuram o local devido à precariedade do sistema de saúde paraguaio. Elas são mais jovens, apresentam maior paridade, menor escolaridade e não têm companheiro, quando comparadas às moradoras no Brasil. Elas omitem onde moram, tentando minimizar a possiblidade de terem atendimento inferior ao das brasileiras do local, ou terem negado seu direito à consulta; e buscam o serviço de obstetrícia tardiamente para evitar a negativa do atendimento. Elas geram custo alto para o município, sobretudo pela desinformação sobre a sua história reprodutiva e gestacional, o que aumenta as chances de serem submetidas a parto cesáreo e de internação da mãe e/ou do bebê, por complicações. Ações efetivas em relação à saúde materno-infantil nas zonas de fronteira precisam ser priorizadas.

Abstract Foz do Iguaçu participates in the SIS-Fronteiras program and installed the Maternal and Child Care Center (CMI) to offer prenatal care service to pregnant Brazilian women resident in Paraguay (Brasiguaias). To analyze the characteristics of the CMI and compare the profile of Brasiguaias with pregnant Brazilian women resident in Brazil, a quantitative and qualitative approach in methodology was applied. It was found that Brasiguaias go to the CMI because of the precariousness of services of the Paraguayan Health System. They tend to be younger, bear more children, have lower education and are unmarried compared with pregnant Brazilian woman resident in Brazil. They omit where they live to avoid being denied the right or receiving inferior treatment than local pregnant Brazilian women and seek obstetric treatment later to avoid being denied attendance. Pregnant Brazilian women resident in Paraguay are onerous to the municipality, especially due to misinformation about their reproductive and pregnancy history, which increases the chances of undergoing cesarean delivery and hospitalization of the mother and/or infant due to complications. Effective actions in relation to maternal and child health in the border areas need to be prioritized.

Comparison of economic and health implications from earlier detection of HIV infection in the United Kingdom and Poland.

PURPOSE: To model the financial and survival impact of early HIV infection detection versus late and compare results between the UK and Polish setting among the newly detected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A Microsoft Excel decision model (SUNRISE) was designed to generate a set of outcomes for a defined population. Survival was modelled on the COHERE study extrapolated to a 5-year horizon as a constant hazard. Hazard rates were specific to age, sex and whether detection was early or late. The primary outcomes for each year up to 5 years were: annual costs, numbers of infected cases, hospital admissions and surviving cases. Total population was observed in UK and Poland. ISPOR Budget Impact Model - Principles of Good Practice were utilised in SUNRISE development. RESULTS: The projected cumulative cost-savings over 5 years in Poland and UK were 5,823,479 PLN (£1,109,234) and £21,608,562 respectfully. When including the value of life-years saved projected cumulative cost-savings in Poland and UK amounted to 8,374,018 PLN (£1,595,051) and £29,834,679 respectively. Savings were insensitive to transmission rates, but were sensitive in direct proportion to the percentage shift from late to early detection. In UK, savings were in higher proportion to Poland, due to much higher overall cost of HIV treatment (whether early or late HIV detected patient). CONCLUSION: Estimated cost savings that could be translated into identification of appropriate programmes (providing wider coverage of HIV testing, awareness building) that would lead towards higher proportion of early HIV detected patients are very sensitive to the cost of HIV test and overall HIV treatment cost.

Return on investment: a fuller assessment of the benefits and cost savings of the US publicly funded family planning program.

UNLABELLED: Policy Points: The US publicly supported family planning effort serves millions of women and men each year, and this analysis provides new estimates of its positive impact on a wide range of health outcomes and its net savings to the government. The public investment in family planning programs and providers not only helps women and couples avoid unintended pregnancy and abortion, but also helps many thousands avoid cervical cancer, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, infertility, and preterm and low birth weight births. This investment resulted in net government savings of $13.6 billion in 2010, or $7.09 for every public dollar spent. CONTEXT: Each year the United States' publicly supported family planning program serves millions of low-income women. Although the health impact and public-sector savings associated with this program's services extend well beyond preventing unintended pregnancy, they never have been fully quantified. METHODS: Drawing on an array of survey data and published parameters, we estimated the direct national-level and state-level health benefits that accrued from providing contraceptives, tests for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Pap tests and tests for human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccinations at publicly supported family planning settings in 2010. We estimated the public cost savings attributable to these services and compared those with the cost of publicly funded family planning services in 2010 to find the net public-sector savings. We adjusted our estimates of the cost savings for unplanned births to exclude some mistimed births that would remain publicly funded if they had occurred later and to include the medical costs for births through age 5 of the child. FINDINGS: In 2010, care provided during publicly supported family planning visits averted an estimated 2.2 million unintended pregnancies, including 287,500 closely spaced and 164,190 preterm or low birth weight (LBW) births, 99,100 cases of chlamydia, 16,240 cases of gonorrhea, 410 cases of HIV, and 13,170 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease that would have led to 1,130 ectopic pregnancies and 2,210 cases of infertility. Pap and HPV tests and HPV vaccinations prevented an estimated 3,680 cases of cervical cancer and 2,110 cervical cancer deaths; HPV vaccination also prevented 9,000 cases of abnormal sequelae and precancerous lesions. Services provided at health centers supported by the Title X national family planning program accounted for more than half of these benefits. The gross public savings attributed to these services totaled approximately $15.8 billion-$15.7 billion from preventing unplanned births, $123 million from STI/HIV testing, and $23 million from Pap and HPV testing and vaccines. Subtracting $2.2 billion in program costs from gross savings resulted in net public-sector savings of $13.6 billion. CONCLUSIONS: Public expenditures for the US family planning program not only prevented unintended pregnancies but also reduced the incidence and impact of preterm and LBW births, STIs, infertility, and cervical cancer. This investment saved the government billions of public dollars, equivalent to an estimated taxpayer savings of $7.09 for every public dollar spent.