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Make routine HIV testing a public reality
HIV/AIDS bills are making progress in the 2008 legislative session. One of them is AB 1894, authored by Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D–Glendale) and sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). AB 1894 would require all group or individual health insurance plans to pay for an HIV test, regardless of whether the testing is related to a primary diagnosis.
If a person receives an HIV test, health care plans often refuse to pay unless the test was part of a final diagnosis or reason for the doctor or hospital visit in the first place. Even with the 2006 recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to make HIV testing a part of routine screening procedures for the general population, hospitals and doctors are sometimes not inclined to offer it routinely because they know they won't get paid for the test.
AB 1894 is one more step to improving access to HIV testing. Following on the heels of last year's successful AB 682 (Berg), which minimized the consent standard for HIV testing, AB 1894 is an important next step in making this new policy standard medical practice. With the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger, AB 1894 would take California one step closer to acting on the CDC's recommendation to make routine HIV testing a public health reality. Please write to your senator urging him or her to vote for AB 1894.
Please copy the following text into your favorite word processor and customize it. Return it to LLP so we can track it.
The Honorable
The California State Legislature
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Senator:
I urge you to vote for AB 1894 when it comes before you in the Senate.
Here is why I think this bill is so important. AB 1894 is one of several HIV/AIDS bills currently progressing through the 2008 legislative session. Authored by Assemblymember Paul Krekorian and sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), AB 1894 would require all group or individual health insurance plans to pay for an HIV test, whether or not the testing is related to a primary diagnosis of HIV or AIDS.
When a private provider bills for an HIV test, insurance plans often refuse to pay unless the test was part of a final diagnosis or reason for an emergency room visit in the first place. Even with the 2006 recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to make HIV testing a part of routine screening procedures for the general population, doctors and hospitals are often inclined not to offer it routinely because they know they won't get paid for the test.
AB 1894 is one more step to improving access to HIV testing. Following on the heels of last year's successful AB 682 (Berg), which minimized the consent standard for HIV testing, AB 1894 is an important next step in making this new policy standard medical practice. Please vote for AB 1894 which will take California one step closer to acting on the CDC's recommendation to make routine HIV testing a public health reality.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
This page updated July 2, 2008.