Washtenaw Co. offering additional HIV testing hours this week

National HIV Testing Day is Monday, June 27. Washtenaw County is providing walk-in testing and appointments throughout the week.  Call 734-544-6840 to schedule an appointment or stop in at 555 Towner Street in Ypsilanti during the additional walk-in times:

• Wednesday, June 29 from 9 am to 4 pm
• Thursday, June 30 from 9 am to 4 pm
• Friday, July 1 from 9 am to 12 pm

Washtenaw County Public Health’s Sexual Health Services program offers free HIV testing, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment and partner notification services to everyone 13 years and older. Even without symptoms, early treatment for HIV is important. Early treatment can help people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives. Treatment can also reduce the risk of passing HIV on to other people.

There were 27 new cases of HIV identified among Washtenaw County residents in 2015. The majority (70%) of new cases were in young people under the age of 30 years.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law passed in 2010, insurance plans must cover HIV testing. Although testing is free through our Sexual Health Services program, the Washtenaw Health Plan is located in the same building and helps uninsured individuals and families get coverage. Contact Washtenaw Health Plan at 734-544-3030, stop in week days from 9 am – 4 pm or visit healthcarecounts.org.

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by Danielle Muntz

Danielle lives in Manchester Township and has many interests which she takes part in with varying degrees of success. She can be reached at Danielle.Does.Stuff@gmail.com.