The Michigan Messenger

The Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced their idea of what is wasteful in the recently House approved stimulus bill. On the list? A proposal for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get $400 million for increased screening and prevention efforts around sexually transmitted infections (while listed as STD’s in the Republican list, the appropriate medical term is no longer disease, but infection). 

This is a drop in the proverbial bucket in terms of this nearly trillion dollar bill. Yet there it is, along with $75 million for stopping smoking programs.

This move by Republicans to identify this funding has some activists in the sexual health community concerned. I contacted Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan about this; CEO Lori Lammerand said:

“At Planned Parenthood, we support Congress and their efforts to create an effective Stimulus Bill that focuses on job creation and retention, something we desperately need here in Michigan. We understand the need to compromise on health proposals in the bill that don’t stimulate the economy. However, keeping people healthy by funding STD testing and other prevention policies will help offset the cost of this nearly trillion dollar stimulus bill. We hope Congress will adopt commonsense policies that prevent unintended pregnancies and the spread of STDs and HIV, which will ultimately save millions of dollars in health care costs.”

Other sexual health advocates, including a large national coalition of HIV groups, are rallying to support this provision. Does it at first seem silly to have this spending in an economic stimulus package designed to provide jobs and kick start the economy? Sure at first, until you realize that prevention of smoking increases worker productivity because they are less sick, and preventing STIs has the bonus effect of preventing unplanned pregnancy, saving millions more in spending in healthcare.