Cross-posted from the HHS.gov Hepatitis blog

The Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is excited to announce the launch of its newest HHS web page, HHS.GOV/STI, the home page for the nation’s first-ever federal action plan to address the dramatic rise of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States. The web page is the leading source of information on the development of the STI Federal Action Plan and will house the plan, information about its implementation and progress towards goals after it is released. Visitors to the page can also find links to basic STI information and resources on policies, guidelines, and best practices for STI prevention, diagnoses, and treatment.

In February 2019, OIDP announced this new initiative to develop the STI Federal Action Plan and quickly convened a steering committee comprised of federal partners throughout HHS as well as other federal agencies.  The federal steering committee is developing goals and actionable strategies to prevent and reduce the incidence and adverse outcomes of STIs. OIDP solicited public input on the plan, hosting four in-person listening sessions, two virtual listening sessions (with more than 1,000 callers), and through a Request for Information published in the Federal Register that closed on June 3, 2019. Over 250 written and oral comments were shared with OIDP from a variety of STI stakeholders across the country, including community-based organizations, advocates, tribal communities, national and professional organizations, state and local health departments, state governments, health care providers, researchers, and members of the public. We are grateful for the thoughtful input from these important stakeholders as their ideas and recommendations will help inform the development of the plan.  The STI Federal Action Plan is expected to be released in 2020.