September 29, 2008

Schwarzenegger Streamlines HIV Testing in California

Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on September 29 a bill that will refine the way HIV testing is performed in the state, MarketWatch reports.

The bill will allow California testing sites to skip prevention education when dealing with repeat HIV testers who are already following low-risk protocols. It also lets some testers fill out the state’s data collection form on their own. The bill also allows testing sites to target couples and other small groups with specialized education services and to use video and other formats to get the messages out.

“We commend Governor Schwarzenegger for signing AB 2899,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which operates the largest non-government HIV testing program in the state. “Individuals from certain high risk populations such sex workers, gay and bisexual men among others may seek out HIV testing as often as two or three times a year. AB 2899 now allows testing centers to streamline and improve the testing process by eliminating the need for a comprehensive, but oftentimes repetitive preventive education and counseling.”

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