USE CASE: HIV Prevention and Testing
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of Colorado. CDPHE oversees not only environmental issues like air pollution and drinking water but also public health concerns like emergency care and health facilities.
Project Summary: The purpose of this project was twofold:
- To obtain baseline data to estimate the number of Colorado residents utilizing Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection using the drug Truvada, and
- To provide CDPHE with an aggregate number of HIV tests conducted by facility and facility type to satisfy grant requirements from Federal funders.
Data from the CO APCD helped CDPHE establish population level estimates of PrEP utilization and HIV testing practices among payers providing data. It could also help drive capacity building and outreach policy initiatives to increase awareness of PrEP and HIV testing initiatives to ensure all Coloradoans that are eligible for HIV PrEP receive access.
Benefit to Colorado: This could project directly benefit Coloradans by ensuring several different options for HIV testing and screening are being utilized and increasing access to PrEP for the prevention of HIV infection, as appropriate.