Grants access to confidential HIV and AIDS information, to the health care providers who have treated a patient and to the managed care organization insuring the patient

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to access to AIDS and HIV infection information

Purpose

To allow the sharing of HIV surveillance data with health care providers who have treated the patient and the managed care organization that insures the patient.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends Public Health Law § 2135(d) to remove the requirement that health care providers must be currently treating the patient in order for the Department to share surveillance data with the provider, and instead limit data sharing to providers who have treated the patient. This section will also allow the Department to share surveillance data with managed care organizations who insure the patient.

Section two provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

Allowing the sharing of HIV surveillance data with health care providers with an existing relationship with the patient and managed care organizations responsible for managing the patient's care will help improve linkages to care. This change will enable the Department to notify health care providers and managed care plans when an individual may be out of care and be experiencing increased viral loads, so they can help get the individual back into care.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately