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BCHD says Title X and Ryan White funding cuts are reducing clinic capacity and lowering STI targets
Summary
BCHD officials told council members that federal Title X and state Ryan White reductions will shrink client capacity at reproductive health and HIV clinics, have already reduced clinic staffing and prompted lower FY26 performance targets for STI visits.
Baltimore City Health Department leaders told the Budget Appropriations Committee that federal and state funding reductions are forcing reductions in clinical capacity and performance targets for reproductive and HIV/STI services.
Commissioner Marybeth Haller said Title X funding for reproductive health clinics is projected to be cut by 32% in FY26 and that the department projects this could mean "a reduction in 600 fewer clients annually." Haller said the department is eliminating some planned administrative and education positions funded through Title X in order to retain clinically funded staff.
Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Martin and Dr. Adena Greenbaum described impacts on HIV and STI services. "We had more than 12,500 clinic visits for STIs in FY24," Martin said, and she pointed out a typo in the budget book for FY25 targets: it listed "1500" but should say "15,000." Martin said the FY26 target has been adjusted downward due to funding and staffing losses. She also confirmed that cuts to Ryan White Part B funding in FY24 and FY25 reduced funding for subrecipients and contributed to reduced staffing capacity at BCHD clinics.
Martin described how clinical operations have adjusted: the department moved to an electronic medical record, reorganized clinic schedules and expanded patient portals. She said some clinic days were reduced because of staffing losses and funding changes, but the department is analyzing the new EMR data to better understand utilization trends.
Council members requested specific counts of people affected and asked whether major hospital providers are stepping in to offset shortfalls; BCHD officials said partners participate in planning and advocacy but that subrecipients have had reductions and that the department is reviewing options to prioritize core services.
Commissioners said they would provide follow‑up answers to members asking for itemized service impacts and the count and dollar value of grant‑funded positions moved to the general fund or eliminated.
