ATLANTA— State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) today commented on the bill signing of House Bill 436 by Governor Deal, sponsored by Rep. Valerie Clark (R-Lawrenceville). HB 436 includes language from House Bill 53, authored and sponsored by Rep. Waites, making HIV testing more routine in Georgia.
“It is an extraordinary privilege to play a role in this life-saving monumental piece of legislation,” said Rep. Waites. “Data suggests that patients often expect health care providers to initiate sexual health discussions, but many providers rarely start the conversation. Unfortunately, this means that HIV testing is rarely being discussed by patients and physicians, and testing often slips through the cracks. My hope is that this legislation will open the door for increased communication between physician and patients so that testing becomes routine.”
The language from HB 53 that is included in HB 463 requires medical providers in primary care settings and emergency rooms offer HIV tests to patients as a part of a routine blood panel test.
“Georgia and the metro Atlanta area continue to rank at the top of the nation in the number of new cases of HIV,” said Rep. Waites. “However, the numbers could be even higher, because many people still remain unaware of their HIV status. Some will go years without the treatment they need to keep them healthy and prevent the spread of the virus. This bill will simply ensure that our medical providers are having these essential conversations with their patients.”
Legislation similar to HB 53 has been enacted in New York, and in 2006, the CDC endorsed making HIV testing a part of routine medical care for patients between the ages 13 and 64 in all healthcare settings. Under the Affordable Care Act, some new health insurance plans must cover certain recommended preventive services, including HIV testing for everyone ages 15 to 65, or for other ages that have an increased risk, without additional costs, such as copays or deductibles. According to the CDC, Georgia ranks fifth in the United States for most new cases of HIV. The CDC also estimates that of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States, nearly one in seven do not know they are infected. Research has found that early diagnosis of HIV and prescription of anti-retroviral medication can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 96 percent.
“My brother died from HIV, and I have since made decreasing the rates of HIV in Georgia one of my top priorities,” said Rep. Waites. “It is a victorious and historic day for the citizens of this state. One of the greatest ways to pay respect to my brother is to help raise awareness about this disease and work to develop legislation that can save lives. I believe House Bill 436 has accomplished that goal and will save many lives.”
For more information on HB 53, please click here.
For more information on HB 436, please click here.
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
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