Michigan outlines plan to reduce new HIV infections 90% by 2030

• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services plans to reduce new HIV infections by 90%
• The plan includes to increase testing for HIV and accessibility to PrEP medication for those eligible 
• The state hopes to reach this goal by 2030

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has released a plan to reduce new HIV infections by 90% by 2030. 

The plan, announced this week in conjunction with the 37th annual World AIDS Day, aims to increase: 

• The number of people tested for HIV.
• The number of “pre-exposure prophylaxis” or PrEP, referrals for eligible individuals. PrEP medicines are designed to lower the chance of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. 
• Retention of individuals receiving ongoing treatment. 

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the body’s immune system, with advanced stages of infection leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

“Stopping new HIV infections and ensuring people living with HIV have access to the best possible care is attainable with the right resources, increased diagnoses and proven treatment strategies,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director in a press statement. “We must also work to reduce HIV-related stigma, which continues to create barriers to receiving support. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life, free from shame and with access to the care they need.”

In Michigan, 696 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2023 and 18,437 people were living with HIV by the end of that year, according to the MDHHS.

Need for ‘a better approach’

“The way we do better is by education, and especially educating the high-risk groups,” said Dr. Paul Benson, an HIV specialist in Oakland County. “ The state of Michigan, the medical community, has got to come up with a better approach for reaching and educating this population.” 

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The disease continues to disproportionately impact African Americans, who are eight times more likely to be infected, and Latinos, who are four times more likely to be infected. 

“If there could be targeted programs to people that are most at risk, people that have multiple sexual partners, people that use condoms inconsistently, and get those people to be tested, and those that are tested get treated, is a good strategy for prevention, " Benson said. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Protection says HIV remains a persistent problem in the US, although HIV infections dropped 12% between 2018 and 2022. 

It is estimated that there were over 31,800 new HIV infections in 2022, according to the CDC. The agency has a goal of decreasing new infections to 9,300 by 2025 and 3,000 by 2030. 

“It was critically important to take a collaborative approach to develop this plan and ensure the voices of those affected by HIV were at the heart of our strategy,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, in a press statement. “We also sought the expertise of public health leaders to inform how we go about ending new HIV infections and improving care.”

The state’s plan also includes: 

• Increasing the number of state-funded HIV tests from 29,668 in 2022 to 32,800 by 2027.
• Increasing the number of eligible people referred for PrEP to 65% by 2027, from 46% in 2022. To be eligible, they must have tested negative for HIV.  
• Responding quickly to potential HIV outbreaks and providing treatment to individuals who need it.