diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index f1c1d5fe4..a6eeb27c7 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ from notifications_utils.formatters import (
 from notifications_utils.recipients import format_phone_number_human_readable
 from notifications_utils.url_safe_token import generate_token
 
+from app.utils.api_health import is_api_down
+
 login_manager = LoginManager()
 csrf = CSRFProtect()
 talisman = Talisman()
@@ -185,6 +187,10 @@ def create_app(application):
     #     FEATURE_ABOUT_PAGE_ENABLED=feature_about_page_enabled,
     # )
 
+    @application.context_processor
+    def inject_is_api_down():
+        return {"is_api_down": is_api_down()}
+
     @application.context_processor
     def inject_initial_signin_url():
         ttl = 24 * 60 * 60
diff --git a/app/main/views/index.py b/app/main/views/index.py
index 79cac7252..65ee5a2c7 100644
--- a/app/main/views/index.py
+++ b/app/main/views/index.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ from app.main.views.sub_navigation_dictionaries import (
     about_notify_nav,
     using_notify_nav,
 )
-from app.utils.api_health import is_api_down
 from app.utils.user import user_is_logged_in
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -47,16 +46,10 @@ def index():
     if current_user and current_user.is_authenticated:
         return redirect(url_for("main.choose_account"))
 
-    try:
-        counts = status_api_client.get_count_of_live_services_and_organizations()
-    except Exception as e:
-        logger.warning(f"API down when loading homepage: {e}")
-        counts = None
     return render_template(
         "views/signedout.html",
         sms_rate=CURRENT_SMS_RATE,
-        counts=counts,
-        is_api_down=is_api_down(),
+        counts=status_api_client.get_count_of_live_services_and_organizations()
     )
 
 
diff --git a/app/templates/base.html b/app/templates/base.html
index f482d8f37..80a0afc7f 100644
--- a/app/templates/base.html
+++ b/app/templates/base.html
@@ -29,29 +29,31 @@
 
     {% block header %}
       {% include 'components/usa_banner.html' %}
-      {% if current_user.is_authenticated or current_service or current_user.platform_admin %}
-      <section class="usa-site-alert usa-site-alert--info" aria-label="Site alert,,,,">
-        <div class="usa-alert">
-          <div class="usa-alert__body">
-            <p class="usa-alert__heading text-bold">Notify.gov Service Ending</p>
-            <p class="usa-alert__text">
-              GSA will no longer offer the Notify.gov service after June 8th, 2025. Visit
-              <a class="usa-link" href="/notify-service-ending">Notify.gov Service Ending</a> for more information.
-            </p>
+      {% if not is_api_down %}
+        {% if current_user.is_authenticated or current_service or current_user.platform_admin %}
+        <section class="usa-site-alert usa-site-alert--info" aria-label="Site alert,,,,">
+          <div class="usa-alert">
+            <div class="usa-alert__body">
+              <p class="usa-alert__heading text-bold">Notify.gov Service Ending</p>
+              <p class="usa-alert__text">
+                GSA will no longer offer the Notify.gov service after June 8th, 2025. Visit
+                <a class="usa-link" href="/notify-service-ending">Notify.gov Service Ending</a> for more information.
+              </p>
+            </div>
           </div>
-        </div>
-      </section>
-      {% else %}
-      <section class="usa-site-alert usa-site-alert--emergency usa-site-alert--no-heading" aria-label="Site alert,,,,">
-        <div class="usa-alert">
-          <div class="usa-alert__body">
-            <p class="usa-alert__heading text-bold">Notify.gov Service Ending</p>
-            <p class="usa-alert__text">
-              Notify.gov is no longer accepting new partners.
-            </p>
+        </section>
+        {% else %}
+        <section class="usa-site-alert usa-site-alert--emergency usa-site-alert--no-heading" aria-label="Site alert,,,,">
+          <div class="usa-alert">
+            <div class="usa-alert__body">
+              <p class="usa-alert__heading text-bold">Notify.gov Service Ending</p>
+              <p class="usa-alert__text">
+                Notify.gov is no longer accepting new partners.
+              </p>
+            </div>
           </div>
-        </div>
-      </section>
+        </section>
+        {% endif %}
       {% endif %}
       {% include 'components/header.html' %}
     {% endblock %}
diff --git a/app/utils/api_health.py b/app/utils/api_health.py
index c75fef5da..b22ffd63d 100644
--- a/app/utils/api_health.py
+++ b/app/utils/api_health.py
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 import os
-
 import requests
+import logging
 from requests.exceptions import RequestException
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def is_api_down():
-    api_base_url = os.getenv("API_BASE_URL", "http://localhost:6011")
+    api_base_url = os.getenv("API_HOST_NAME")
     try:
         response = requests.get(api_base_url, timeout=2)
-        return response.status_code != 200
-    except RequestException:
+        is_down = response.status_code != 200
+        if is_down:
+            logger.warning(f"API responded with status {response.status_code} at {api_base_url}")
+        return is_down
+    except RequestException as e:
+        logger.error(f"API down when loading homepage {e}")
         return True