'Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act' (Waters, D, CA) a 'Crucial Linchpin to Health...

'Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act' (Waters, D, CA) a 'Crucial Linchpin to
Health Care Reform,' says AHF

Bill Would Require Health Insurance Plans to Cover Routine HIV Tests Under the
Same Terms as Other Routine Health Screenings. Legislation Could Spur
Nationwide Compliance with CDC's 2006 HIV Testing Guidelines Recommending HIV
Testing of All those 13-64 in Routine Health Settings

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation
(AHF), the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider in the US which
currently provides treatment, care and support services to more than 100,000
individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean and Asia, today commended Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D, CA
35th) for reintroducing a bill to require health insurance plans to cover
routine HIV tests under the same terms and conditions as other routine health
screenings. The bill, which is known as the Routine HIV Screening Coverage
Act, had been previously introduced by Waters (as H.R. 822) during the 110th
Congress; however, action on the bill was not completed prior to adjournment.

"The 'Routine HIV Screening Coverage Act' seeks to address a major disconnect
between a straightforward and prudent public health measure set forth by the
CDC back in 2006 and the bureaucratic buck passing by the nation's health care
insurers that has happened since then," said Michael Weinstein, President of
AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Nearly three years after the CDC first
recommended the routine testing of all individuals ages 13-64 in all routine
healthcare settings such as community clinics and emergency units, we are
nowhere near compliance with our own government guidelines. Meanwhile,
estimates of new US HIV cases have risen from 40,000 annually to more than
56,000 annually. By requiring insurer coverage of routine HIV screening, this
bill should go a long way in helping to break the chain of new infections by
making HIV testing -- and linkage to treatment, when needed -- far more
readily available. We applaud Congresswoman Waters for reintroducing and
carrying this lifesaving public health measure."

"The 2006 CDC guidelines for HIV testing have been largely ignored nationwide
due in no small measure to the unanswered question as to who actually covers
the costs of such routine screening," said Whitney Engeran-Cordova, Director
of the AHF's Public Health Division. "By requiring health insurance plans to
cover routine HIV tests under the same terms as other routine health
screenings, Congresswoman Waters' bill should help spur compliance with the
CDC's guidelines. The only way to truly get control of HIV in this country is
for people to know their status and for conversations about sexual health to
become part of our national vocabulary. This step will remove a significant
and pervasive barrier to HIV testing. It is necessary, it is way past time,
and the health and wellbeing of nation is worth it."

"Insurance coverage of such routine testing is a crucial linchpin to effective
national health care policy and is key to any real health care reform," added
Weinstein. "From the beginning, Congresswoman Waters' leadership on this issue
has been clear and consistent, and her vision is especially critical now in
light of President Obama's recently announced goals to focus resources on
prevention to both improve the quality of heath care while reducing costs of
such care."

About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS
organization. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than
100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at
www.aidshealth.org.

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Media Contact: Ged Kenslea, +1-323-860-5225, Mobile: +1-323-791-5526,
gedk@aidshealth.org; or Alternate Media Contact: Lori Yeghiayan,
+1-323-860-5225, Mobile: +1-323-377-4312, lori.yeghiayan@aidshealth.org, both
of AHF