NYAC • 400 Broadway •2 nd Floor • New York, New York 10013

Tel: (646) 744-1598 • Fax: (212) 334-7956 • Web: www.nyaidscoalition.org

Brittany R. Allen, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Daryl Cochrane

June 30, 2010 (917) 548-6518 or dcochrane@nyaidsc.org

STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES LEGISLATION

TO MAKE HIV TESTING MORE ROUTINE IN HEALTHCARE
Albany, NY – The State Legislature just passed legislation that will increase HIV testing throughout the state.
The bill (S.08227/A.11487) introduced by State Senate and State Assembly Health Committee Chairmen –
Tom Duane (D-Manhattan) and Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) – seeks to make HIV testing a routine part of
everyday healthcare for New Yorkers. This bill would mandate the offering of an HIV testing, as well as
decrease barriers to testing for healthcare providers and patients.
Brittany R. Allen, Executive Director of NYAC, stated “This legislation will go a long way to get more New
Yorkers tested for HIV, detect HIV infection earlier for those who are positive, get people into proper care, and
lower the overall rate of HIV infection in this state.”
This bill will significantly decrease the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, while increasing the number of people
tested each year. By simply offering the test to virtually every patient as part of their routine care, regardless of
their perceived risk, we will see the standard of care improve across the state. Now every New Yorker will
know his or her HIV status, and will be better able to make informed decisions about their lives. Further, certain
consents for HIV testing will be included among general medical consent forms, eliminating the need for
separate consent in most cases. In addition, the bill will compel healthcare providers to increase the availability
of the rapid HIV test, rather than the standard blood test, thereby reducing the time it takes to get results.
The importance of this legislation is far reaching in its goal to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Approximately one
of every four New Yorkers living with HIV is unaware of his or her status. In addition, we know that nearly 70
percent of new infections each year are caused by people who are unaware of their HIV status. By getting
more New Yorkers tested and by getting those who test positive into proper care, we will see a significant
decrease in the number of new infections.
“Far too many New Yorkers are HIV infected and not aware of their status,” said Sharen Duke, NYAC Board
Member and CEO of the AIDS Service Center NYC. “The Duane/Gottfried HIV Testing Bill makes sense, and
increases access to testing that can help people learn their HIV status and receive early care and treatment.”
Carine Jocelyn, a NYAC Board Member and Executive Director of Diaspora Community Services, stated “This
bill will make great strides in removing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Particularly in the Caribbean
community, where the toll of the AIDS epidemic is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa and remains the leading
cause of death for those age15 to 44, stigma is significant and prevents people from utilizing proper prevention
techniques and seeking proper care. This bill will make HIV testing routine for everyone.”

NYAC applauds the efforts of Governor David Paterson, Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines, as well as
State Senator Duane and Assemblymember Gottfried for their incredible efforts to bring forward this legislation.

EDUCATE. ADVOCATE. MOBILIZE.

About NYAC – Established in 1988, the New York AIDS Coalition brings together diverse constituencies sharing the
conviction that community-based services are key in the fight against HIV/AIDS. NYAC’s mission is to secure, strengthen,
and enhance New York’s community-based fight against AIDS and to promote the fair and compassionate treatment of
New Yorkers living with HIV disease. NYAC members include over 180 organizations throughout New York State
representing the full spectrum of communities most severely affected by the AIDS epidemic. Visit our website at
www.nyaidscoalition.org.