(RALEIGH) -- HIV continues to be a public health threat in North Carolina, with a significant increase of diagnoses in Cumberland County health officials are reminding people of the importance of making an HIV test part of their routine health screenings.

"One of the things that's most alarming to the North Carolina AIDS Action Network is the frequency of late diagnosis of HIV in North Carolina," said Lisa Hazirjian, Executive Director of the NC AIDS Action Network.

North Carolina covers “medically necessary” HIV testing under Medicaid. Beginning next year, states will receive additional funding from the federal government for coverage of preventive services like HIV testing. There are multiple sites in North Carolina offering free HIV tests on Wednesday and throughout the year.