The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has revised and raised its annual estimates of HIV incidence in the United States up to 56,000 new cases per year from approximately 40,000 cases each year, with almost 1.1 million people living with AIDS. It is estimated that only 40% of the U.S. population has ever received an HIV test, and that a quarter of those living in the U.S. with AIDS are unaware of their HIV-positive status.

Bill AB 1894 (the first bill of its kind in the nation) may soon change these frightening statistics and become an essential step in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The California Legislature passed legislation sponsored by Assembly Member Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that requires health insurers operating in California to cover routine HIV screening.

Specifically, AB 1894:
-Requires every health plan contract that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2009 to provide coverage for testing for HIV antibodies and AIDS, regardless of whether the testing is related to a primary diagnosis.

-Requires every health insurer that issues, amends, or renews an individual or group policy of health insurance on or after January 1, 2009 to provide coverage for testing for HIV antibodies and AIDS, regardless of whether the testing is
related to a primary diagnosis.

-Provides that the health insurer may choose the provider of the HIV or AIDS tests, and that the health insurer may provide reimbursement according to its principles and policies.

Having passed out of the Assembly after concurrence in Senate amendments, it awaits the Governor's signature to become law. "This bill will make HIV testing as routine as a test for cholesterol or high blood pressure, and for a very small investment, the returns including information and cost effective access to care will be great," says Krekorian. "AB 1894 is a straightforward solution to a growing public health dilemma and helps pave the way to encourage widespread and routine HIV testing throughout California." Krekorian went on to say that this is prudent legislation that will "certainly save more lives."

Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, explained that the most effective public health strategy to combat HIV/AIDS is to identify those who are infected, provide treatment and minimize the spread of new infections. "AB 1894 will help us identify more people who are living with HIV, but who may not know their status because they've never been tested," says Weinstein. "With the lifetime cost of care for just one individual living with HIV/AIDS now estimated at more than $600,000, we need to do everything possible to normalize the process for testing in order to identify all those who are infected, link them to treatment and reduce the spread of new infections."

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