Despite being available at no cost through the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. the health care reform law, or ACA), recommended sexual health care services are not being used by more than half of all Americans, according to a statement by the National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH).

As a result, NCSH has issued a call-to-action to increase such services nationwide. To further that goal, NCSH has launched a website with a downloadable guide to help Americans get such services. These resources provide action steps for good sexual health and charts of recommended services.

Recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, such services include HPV and hepatitis vaccination, as well as testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Under the ACA, insurers must cover task force recommendations.

NCSH consists of nearly 40 U.S. health and medical organizations, including the AIDS Institute of the New York State Department of Health, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) Center on HIV and Aging, the National Network of STD/HIV Prevention Training Centers, and Project Inform.

To read the statement, click here.