Media Contact:
J. Cory Curtis, Lifelong AIDS Alliance
(206) 957-1630

For Immediate Release
May 17, 2006

Lifelong AIDS Alliance Executive Director Issues Statement in Response to CDC Proposal to Encourage Mandatory HIV/AIDS Testing
Agency Encourages Testing, but Insists That Funding for Care Must Also Exist

Seattle, WA—May 17, 2006—Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s Executive Director Tina Podlodowski today released the following statement regarding the Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation on mandatory HIV testing:

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control issued a recommendation that all teenagers and adults should receive HIV tests as part of routine physical exams. While Lifelong AIDS Alliance advocates for and encourages everyone to receive HIV testing, we find it troublesome that these recommendations come at a time when the United States lacks a strong support system to care for those who test positive.

Currently, a lack of sufficient care follows an HIV diagnosis for all but the few that can afford private care. Making HIV tests mandatory assumes that every health care provider understands the moral, social, and financial impacts that come with an HIV diagnosis, that all insurance companies will allow people with HIV to purchase insurance policies, and that the HIV health care system is equipped to care for up to 250,000 newly diagnosed people as a result of this policy. Sadly, none of these assumptions are true.

The vast majority of the people that Lifelong serves live at or below the poverty level without adequate health insurance or coping skills—and many face mental health or substance abuse issues. For these people, facing an HIV diagnosis without a solid support structure that can help them take responsibility for their status and subsequent actions is disastrous. 

Lifelong agrees that it is unacceptable for people to not know their HIV status or that up to a quarter of people living with HIV/AIDS do not know that they are infected.  Testing for HIV and knowing your status are essential to preventing the spread of the disease. However, Current testing methods simply aren’t prepared to deal with the ‘I’m HIV-positive, now what?’ scenario. Approaches to widespread testing must be matched with widespread care.
 
About Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Lifelong AIDS Alliance provides food, housing and health insurance to people living with HIV/AIDS in King County. Lifelong also provides prevention education and is a leader in local, regional and national advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS.  More than 85% of Lifelong AIDS Alliance's clients live on less than $15,000 per year.  Lifelong AIDS Alliance is the leading AIDS service organization in the Pacific Northwest and is recognized nationally for its innovative work.

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