U.S. HIV Testing Policy: Viewpoints

See also: U.S. HIV Testing Policy

Only 1 in 5 Teens in the US Gets Tested for HIV (January 11, 2012)
From The Body
When Will Routine Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Be the Routine for Adolescents? (January 4, 2012)
In Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Massachusetts HIV Testing Policy in 2012: Six Degrees of C. Everett Koop -- A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (December 2, 2011)
From The Body
Betsy Yung Shares Her Story: A Blog Entry by Robert Breining (November 8, 2011)
"[In July 2010, Betsy] was given an AIDS diagnosis with 27 CD4 cells. … Hindsight being what it is, she realized that she had numerous warning signs over the previous few years... Shingles, thrush, UC and swollen glands. None of her doctors ever even suggested that she get tested. After all, she didn't fit the 'at risk' demographic at all."
From The Body
I'll Take the Paradigm Shift. Can You Super Size It Please? A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (September 8, 2011)
"Physicians, who in the twenty-first century live and die by a time clock and the next lurking appointment, simply don't have the time or the inclination to engage patients in discussions about HIV. And so instead, like the assuming internal medicine doctor, the overwhelming majority of clinicians assume that they too know who their patients are and what they should or should not want regarding their own health care."
From The Body
Opt-Out HIV Testing: Key Questions on Cost and Implementation (Summer 2011)
An interview with Bernard M. Branson, M.D.
To read PDF, click here.
In Research Initiative/Treatment Action!, from The Center for AIDS
Testing, Linking, Retaining: An HIV Clinician's Perspective (Summer 2011)
An interview with Michael J. Mugavero, M.D.
To read PDF, click here.
In Research Initiative/Treatment Action!, from The Center for AIDS
First in Fig Newtons, Last in Routine HIV Testing: Nightmare in the Bay State -- A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (July 13, 2011)
"Bury one's head in the sand long enough and one emerges, when it's time to come up for air, with nothing but a wicked case of sandy head. And just because public health, health care and HIV/AIDS service organization officials do not discuss the thousands of undiagnosed HIV infections in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not mean the infections do not exist."
From The Body
The Ethics of Universal HIV Screening (May 13, 2011)
From amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
Demand the Test Ladies -- Ignorance Is Not Bliss: A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague (May 10, 2011)
"This month The Kaiser Family Foundation published key findings from their women's health survey. The results of the sexual health portion are saddening. In the report, only 28% of the women ages 18-64 have discussed sexually transmitted diseases with their doctor and only 29% have discussed HIV/AIDS."
From The Body
In This Case, I Don't Even Own That Kind of Towel: A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (February 14, 2011)
From The Body
HIV Left Out? HHS Announces Massive Public Health and Prevention Funding -- But No Mention of HIV: A Blog Entry by Jim Merrell (February 10, 2011)
From HIV Prevention Justice Alliance
Routine Opt-Out HIV Testing in 2011: The Road to Civility Is Paved With Forgiveness -- A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (December 6, 2010)
From The Body
Sue the Bastards, That's What I Always Say: A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (November 24, 2010)
"I know that we live in a litigious society but I am not a litigious person. Filing a lawsuit ... never once crossed my mind as a practical means to move HIV testing full-speed into the 21st century."
From The Body
When I'm Right, I'm Right: A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (October 8, 2010)
"I always sensed that if given an opportunity to help people avoid the medical folly I had endured by helping move HIV testing to a more open, routine and streamlined approach, I would take a leap, right out another closet door."
From The Body
Workshop: Testing and Linkage to Care Plus (TLC+): Implications for Women and Families (September 22, 2010)
From U.S. Positive Women's Network
Opt-Out and Eliminating Consent for HIV Testing: A Blog Entry by Gary Bell (September 14, 2010)
If providers feel a conversation about HIV testing is uncomfortable, then how will they feel about giving someone a positive result?
From The Body
D.C. Mayoral Candidate Wants HIV Status on Driver's Licenses: A Video Blog Entry by Justin B. Terry-Smith (September 2, 2010)
"To me this is almost as bad as someone branding me with a red hot poker. ... This would be in violation of so many health information privacy/HIPAA laws it's not even funny. Does [Leo Alexander] even know what HIPAA is?"
From The Body
Massachusetts "Opt-Out" HIV Testing Bill: Update -- A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (August 18, 2010)
From The Body
Massachusetts HIV Bill Must Pass by July 31: A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (July 29, 2010)
From The Body
This HIV Testing Day, HIV Clinics Face Funding Shortfall for Lifesaving Patient Care (June 18, 2010)
From HIV Medicine Association
The Testing Debate: Is Written Consent a Barrier? (Spring 2010)
To read PDF, click here.
In Achieve, from ACRIA and GMHC
Time for Talk, Tests on STDs (April 19, 2010)
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Doctors Urge the Government to Keep Up With Medical Progress (July/August 2009)
HIV policy and funding left in the dust of treatment success.
To read PDF, click here.
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
Editorial, Opinion Piece Discuss Issues Related to Routine HIV Testing (July 6, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Editorial Urges Broader HIV Testing in South Carolina, Across Nation (July 1, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Passing the Test: The Challenges and Opportunities of HIV Testing in Black America (June 2009)
To read PDF, click here.
From Black AIDS Institute
New Jersey Should Continue Efforts to Provide No-Cost HIV Testing, Editorial Says (May 7, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Routine Testing "Imperative" in Fighting HIV/AIDS Epidemic in U.S., Editorial Says (April 20, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
HIV Policy: The Path Forward -- A Joint Position Paper of the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American College of Physicians (April 16, 2009)
In Clinical Infectious Diseases
HIV Testing Policy: A Joint Position Paper of the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American College of Physicians (April 15, 2009)
It's time for a major overhaul of the way the U.S. approaches nearly every aspect of the fight against HIV, according to two powerful medical groups. Among other things, they call for Medicare and private insurance companies to start covering the costs of routine HIV screening.
From HIV Medicine Association
Texas Bill to Make HIV Screening Part of Routine Care Would Help Efforts to Curb Virus, Editorial Says (March 5, 2009)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
JAMA Perspective Piece Examines Routine HIV Screening (January 29, 2009)
It's time for the U.S. medical system to get its act together and become more serious about HIV testing, says JAMA's associate managing editor Rebecca Voelker.
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
In the HIV Testing Debate, GMHC Backs the Status Quo (May 28, 2008)
From Gay Men's Health Crisis
HIV Testing and Written, Informed Consent (May 2008)
An analysis of current debates.
To read PDF, click here.
From Gay Men's Health Crisis
The Downside of Routine HIV Testing (March/April 2007)
To read PDF, click here.
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Editorials on CDC Routine HIV Testing Recommendations (October 6, 2006)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes Editorials, Opinion Pieces on CDC Routine HIV Testing Recommendations (September 29, 2006)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Federal HIV Testing Initiatives Can Only Succeed With Expanded Healthcare, Patient and Provider Education (PDF) (September 21, 2006)
From Lambda Legal
Routine HIV Testing Should Be Implemented Across U.S., Opinion Piece Says (April 13, 2006)
In Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, from Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
The Case for Expanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing (April 2006)
In Mayo Clinic Proceedings
New HIV Screening Recommendations Off the Mark (2006)
From Lambda Legal
N.Y. Health Officials Urge More Aggressive HIV Testing, Notification in U.S. (December 1, 2005)
[Archived Article]
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Back to Basics: Making HIV Testing Routine (August 2003)
[Archived Article]
An analysis of U.S. HIV testing practices.
To read PDF, click here.
In IAPAC Monthly, from International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care
Doctors Play Key Role in More HIV Testing (June 27, 2003)
[Archived Article]
Excerpts from an op-ed column by L. Natalie Carroll, M.D., President of the U.S. National Medical Association.
In CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update, from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention