June 5, 2008 |
Press contacts:
Krishna Stone, 212.367.1016
Daryl Cochrane, 212.367.1045
|
GMHC SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO MAKE
HIV TESTS ROUTINE
New York, NY — Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) today applauded the New York State Department of Health for introducing a bill to make the offering of an HIV test routine in all medical settings throughout the state, while maintaining the basic safeguards for patients and providers.
This bill (A.11461), sponsored by the New York State Department of Health, along with Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried (D,WF-New York) and Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon (R,C,I-Nassau), promotes expanded HIV testing while at the same time maintaining written informed consent and confidentiality protections. In addition, the offering of an HIV test to most adults seeking health care will help normalize HIV and decrease stigma.
"New York State public health laws contain some of the strongest provisions for patient and provider protection, requiring written, informed consent as a condition for HIV testing," said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "We know these protections work and are not an obstacle for testing more individuals. The real barriers include the failure of health care providers to offer the test, lack of access to rapid testing, and stigma associated with HIV and testing. Written, informed consent ensures that patients understand the full nature of HIV testing and transmission, and learn how to protect themselves and their partners. We are pleased that DOH recognizes the importance of maintaining these safeguards."
The need for expanded offering of HIV testing is clear. One in four people living with HIV is unaware of his or her infection. Studies indicate that 50-70% of new infections are caused by people who are unaware of their HIV status and who have been infected themselves for less than two years.
Data has shown that by simply offering an HIV test to patients, the number of people tested will increase exponentially. Large public institutions, such as the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, have successfully implemented expansion of HIV testing while maintaining written, informed consent. HHC witnessed a rise in the number of individuals tested by 60% in the first year and 116% in the second year of its pilot program to routinely offer an HIV test throughout its various sites in all five boroughs.
"We have long believed that testing individuals for HIV acts as both treatment and prevention," added Dr. Hill. "Early detection of HIV serves to move people into proper care sooner and set them on a path to manage their HIV infection. Testing also provides an important opportunity for prevention education."
GMHC is proud to support this legislation that addresses the concerns of patients, health care providers, advocates, and the Department of Health. Additionally, GMHC remains clear in its opposition to legislation that would dismantle written informed consent laws and patient/provider protections, as is also pending in the State Legislature.
* * *
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. We provide services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, and outreach and education to hundreds of thousands throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.gmhc.org.
© 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
home 
