New law requires HIV testing during routine medical services

New law requires HIV testing during routine medical services Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a law Wednesday requiring HIV testing to become a routine part of medical services. The legislation also allows medical providers to administer the test after verbal consent is given, instead of written consent. Introduced on a symbolic date -June 27 was National HIV Testing Day- the bill is anticipated to lead to a rise in the number of people in Illinois who are tested for HIV, reduce the spread of the disease and help individuals receive proper care earlier. The law goes into effect June 1, 2008. The bill was sponsored by Rep. LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago). "With tests much more routine and available, we will find more people who are HIV-positive," said Eric Nelson, interim executive director of Better Existence with HIV, a service organization based in Evanston and Chicago. "There are such a large number of people who don't know their status." Meanwhile, other said they wonder how much of an impact the law will have on undeserved communities or high-risk individuals, such as chronic drug users or those in the sex trade.  "It's a good idea from a public health perspective, but I don't know how much impact it will have on some high-risk populations who don't have access to medical care as often as it should," said Jay Terry, Evanston's director of Health and Human Services. Of the estimated one million HIV-positive individuals living in the United States, a quarter are unaware they have the disease, according to two recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC's findings prompted its recommendations in 2006 that called for HIV testing to become a routine part of medical procedures, the reports said. "You can get some very scary statistics when you get into metropolitan areas like Chicago," Nelson said. "The most important thing is for people to learn their status-that's what is going to allow them to get treatment and to protect others. The more people who know their status, the better."

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