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AHF Urges Passage of 'Stop AIDS in Prison Act'
Thursday September 25,
As H.R. 1943 (Waters, D--CA) Goes Before Senate Judiciary Committee Today, Nation's Largest AIDS Organization Calls Bill "Urgent Lifesaving Legislation"
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider in the US which currently provides treatment, care and support services to more than 80,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, urges the passage of the Stop AIDS in Prison Act (H.R. 1943), scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The bill, introduced by Representative Maxine Waters (D —CA) and passed by the House last September, seeks to provide comprehensive HIV testing, treatment and prevention for inmates in federal prisons and upon re-entry into the community.
The legislation directs the Federal Bureau of Prisons to test inmates upon entering and exiting federal prison and includes an “opt-out” provision should inmates wish to decline being tested. The bill also ensures that inmates found to be HIV-positive
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“AHF commends Representative Waters for her leadership in shepherding this groundbreaking legislation that will go a long way toward protecting public health and saving lives,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “By making HIV testing routine among the prison population, H.R. 1943 will not only help reduce the spread of infection among inmates, but it will also protect the health of the community at large. HIV/AIDS continues to affect minorities disproportionately. At the same time, African-Americans and Latinos continue to be overrepresented in the prison population. With HIV infection rates exploding among communities of color, this legislation is a practical way to identify infected individuals and link them to medical care and treatment, and as parolees return to the community, to help break the chain of infection.”
“In order to best address the nation’s growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, the CDC has recommended routine testing for HIV in all healthcare settings as well as recommending the removal of written informed consent in order to streamline the testing process,” said Whitney Engeran III, Director of the AHF’s Public Health Division. “Health policy implemented in federal prisons should remain in line with the government’s own health guidelines. H.R. 1943 follows these sensible CDC guidelines, and AHF strongly urges the Senate Judiciary Committee to pass this urgent lifesaving legislation.”
Last October, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law legislation to streamline HIV testing in California,
| bringing it into line with CDC recommendations urging the implementation of routine HIV screening of all persons in a health care setting. The bill removed a major barrier to HIV testing by requiring a patient to give simple consent, rather than written informed consent, before an HIV test can be administered.
California Assembly Bill 682, California’s Routine HIV Screening Bill, was a bi-partisan bill, jointly authored by Assembly Members Patty Berg, Bonnie Garcia and Jared Huffman and co-sponsored by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the California Medical Association (CMA) and the Health Officers Association of California. The bill repealed written informed consent for HIV testing, enabling medical providers to identify Californians who are unaware of their HIV-positive status and bring them into care and treatment.
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 80,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.
Contact:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Ged Kenslea, 323-860-5225
Mobile: 323-791-5526
gedk@aidshealth.org
or
Alternate Media Contact:
Lori Yeghiayan, 323-860-5225
Mobile: 323-377-4312
lori.yeghiayan@aidshealth.org
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AHF URGES PASSAGE