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.”
NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.
Please click OK to confirm your comment and confirm you accept our posting rules. Note your message will be reviewed by our staff before going live.
"I am psychologically suffering from body wasting, mainly hips, face, legs and arms. Does anyone know where I can order something (maybe underwear with foam) to fill the sunken hips, so that pants can start looking normal? I feel pathetic when I look at myself in the mirror in jeans—jeans used to fill up so nicely, now they just hang!"
