The Affiliate fought legislation to expand HIV testing while reducing the confidentiality protections in place for patients. At the end of the 2008 session, the legislature passed a bill forming a study commission to look into best practices for HIV testing. That commission met four times earlier this year.
Despite pressure from some in the medical community to significantly weaken the current state law’s informed consent and counseling requirements, the final version of the bill proposed by the commission – while not perfect – kept most of those key provisions intact. The bill is awaiting transmittal to the Governor.
