S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6734
I N S E N A T E
February 2, 2010
___________
Introduced by Sens. HANNON, DeFRANCISCO, LITTLE, MORAHAN, VOLKER -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to HIV related test-
ing
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. Public health authorities, including
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stress the impor-
tance of greatly increasing the number of people who receive testing for
infection with HIV. The CDC stresses the offering of testing to patients
without regard to perceived risk. HIV testing helps infected patients by
enabling them to enter health care earlier to monitor their HIV disease
and initiate treatment when appropriate. HIV testing provides a unique,
important opportunity to discuss behaviors that prevent transmitting the
virus to others.
Yet many health care professionals miss opportunities to offer an HIV
test to their patients for a variety of reasons. Many may be reluctant
to bring up what they anticipate will be a difficult topic. They may
assume that their patients are not at risk for HIV infection. They may
worry that patients will interpret the offer of an HIV test to mean that
the practitioner is making negative assumptions about the patient. At
the same time, many patients may not perceive themselves to be at risk
for HIV and so may not initiate testing discussions themselves. Conse-
quently, many patients are highly unlikely to request HIV testing if it
is not offered by their provider. Requiring the offer of testing to all
patients without regard to perceived individual risk will help simplify,
destigmatize, and universalize the offer of HIV testing, and therefore
increase the likelihood that individuals will be tested and therefore
learn their HIV status. Because the most important reason for expanding
HIV testing is bringing HIV infected individuals into care as early as
possible, a positive test result must lead to counseling, services, and
care.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15389-01-0
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This legislation will also simplify and streamline the process of
obtaining written informed consent to HIV related testing and the
providing of pre- and post-test counseling and information.
Nothing contained in this legislation shall be construed as authoriz-
ing any individual to require any person to have an HIV related test or
treatment for HIV/AIDS.
Therefore, this legislation will help protect the health of individual
patients while supporting health care providers in their efforts to
improve the public's health. This legislation is consistent with and a
logical extension of New York's laws on HIV testing consent and confi-
dentiality.
It is important that the offering of testing and arranging for, refer-
ring for, and providing of follow-up services be culturally and linguis-
tically appropriate.
S 2. Section 2781 of the public health law, as added by chapter 584 of
the laws of 1988, paragraph (d) of subdivision 6 as added by chapter 220
of the laws of 1996 and subdivision 7 as added by chapter 429 of the
laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
S 2781. HIV related testing. 1. Except as provided in section three
thousand one hundred twenty-one of the civil practice law and rules, or
unless otherwise specifically authorized or required by a state or
federal law, no person shall order the performance of an HIV related
test without first [receiving] HAVING RECEIVED the written, informed
consent of the subject of the test who has capacity to consent or, when
the subject lacks capacity to consent, of a person authorized pursuant
to law to consent to health care for such individual. [A physician or
other person authorized pursuant to law to order the performance of an
HIV related test shall certify, in the order for the performance of an
HIV related test, that informed consent required by this section has
been received prior to ordering such test by a laboratory or other
facility.]
2. Informed consent to [an] HIV related [test] TESTING shall consist
of a statement CONSENTING TO HIV RELATED TESTING signed by the subject
of the test who has capacity to consent or, when the subject lacks
capacity to consent, by a person authorized pursuant to law to consent
to health care for the subject [which includes at least the following:
(a) an explanation of the test, including its purpose, the meaning of
its results, and the benefits of early diagnosis and medical inter-
vention; and
(b) an explanation of the procedures to be followed, including that
the test is voluntary, that consent may be withdrawn at any time, and a
statement advising the subject that anonymous testing is available; and
(c) an explanation of the confidentiality protections afforded confi-
dential HIV related information under this article, including the
circumstances under which and classes of persons to whom disclosure of
such information may be required, authorized or permitted under this
article or in accordance with other provisions of law or regulation]
AFTER THE SUBJECT OR SUCH OTHER PERSON HAS RECEIVED THE INFORMATION
DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
2-A. WRITTEN CONSENT TO HIV RELATED TESTING MAY BE PART OF A SIGNED
GENERAL CONSENT TO MEDICAL CARE FOR THE SUBJECT OF THE TEST, PROVIDED
THAT THE CONSENT FORM SHALL HAVE A CLEARLY-MARKED PLACE ADJACENT TO THE
SIGNATURE WHERE THE SUBJECT OF THE TEST OR, WHEN THE SUBJECT LACKS
CAPACITY TO CONSENT, A PERSON AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO LAW TO CONSENT TO
HEALTH CARE FOR SUCH INDIVIDUAL, SHALL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPECIFICALLY DECLINE HIV RELATED TESTING IN WRITING ON SUCH GENERAL
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CONSENT. AN INFORMED CONSENT FOR HIV RELATED TESTING PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION SHALL BE VALID FOR SUCH TESTING UNTIL SUCH CONSENT IS REVOKED OR
EXPIRES BY ITS TERMS. EACH TIME THAT AN HIV RELATED TEST IS ORDERED
PURSUANT TO WRITTEN INFORMED CONSENT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THIS SECTION, THE PHYSICIAN OR OTHER PERSON AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO
LAW TO ORDER THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HIV RELATED TEST, OR SUCH PERSON'S
AGENT, SHALL ORALLY NOTIFY THE SUBJECT OF THE TEST OR, WHEN THE SUBJECT
LACKS CAPACITY TO CONSENT, A PERSON AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO LAW TO
CONSENT TO HEALTH CARE FOR SUCH INDIVIDUAL, THAT AN HIV RELATED TEST
WILL BE CONDUCTED AT SUCH TIME, AND SHALL NOTE THE NOTIFICATION IN THE
PATIENT'S RECORD.
3. Prior to the execution of [a] written informed consent, a person
ordering the performance of an HIV related test OR SUCH PERSON'S AGENT
shall provide to the subject of an HIV related test or, if the subject
lacks capacity to consent, to a person authorized pursuant to law to
consent to health care for the subject, an explanation [of the nature of
AIDS and HIV related illness, information about discrimination problems
that disclosure of the test result could cause and legal protections
against such discrimination, and information about behavior known to
pose risks for transmission and contraction of HIV infection] THAT:
(A) HIV CAUSES AIDS AND CAN BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH SEXUAL ACTIVITIES
AND NEEDLE-SHARING AND BY PREGNANT WOMEN TO THEIR FETUSES AND THROUGH
BREASTFEEDING INFANTS;
(B) THERE IS TREATMENT FOR HIV THAT CAN HELP AN INDIVIDUAL STAY HEAL-
THY;
(C) INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV OR AIDS CAN PROTECT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES,
AND THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE HIV CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM BEING
INFECTED;
(D) TESTING IS VOLUNTARY AND CAN BE DONE ANONYMOUSLY AT A PUBLIC TEST-
ING CENTER;
(E) THE LAW PROTECTS THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF HIV RELATED TEST RESULTS;
AND
(F) THE LAW PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THEIR HIV STATUS AND
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH SUCH CONSEQUENCES.
4. A person authorized pursuant to law to order the performance of an
HIV related test OR SUCH PERSON'S AGENT shall provide to the person
seeking such test an opportunity to remain anonymous and to provide
written, informed consent through use of a coded system with no linking
of individual identity to the test request or results. A health care
provider who is not authorized by the commissioner to provide HIV
related tests on an anonymous basis shall refer a person who requests an
anonymous test to a test site which does provide anonymous testing. The
provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a health care provider
ordering the performance of an HIV related test on an individual
proposed for insurance coverage.
5. At the time of communicating the test result to the subject of the
test, a person ordering the performance of an HIV related test OR SUCH
PERSON'S AGENT shall:
(A) IN THE CASE OF A TEST INDICATING EVIDENCE OF HIV INFECTION,
provide the subject of the test or, if the subject lacks capacity to
consent, the person authorized pursuant to law to consent to health care
for the subject, with counseling or referrals for counseling:
[(a)] (I) for coping with the emotional consequences of learning the
result;
[(b)] (II) regarding the discrimination problems that disclosure of
the result could cause;
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[(c)] (III) for behavior change to prevent transmission or contraction
of HIV infection;
[(d)] (IV) to inform such person of available medical treatments; and
[(e)] (V) regarding the [test subject's] need to notify his or her
contacts[.]; AND
(B) IN THE CASE OF A TEST NOT INDICATING EVIDENCE OF HIV INFECTION,
PROVIDE THE SUBJECT OF THE TEST OR, IF THE SUBJECT LACKS CAPACITY TO
CONSENT, THE PERSON AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO LAW TO CONSENT TO HEALTH CARE
FOR THE SUBJECT, WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE RISKS OF PARTICIPATING
IN HIGH RISK SEXUAL OR NEEDLE SHARING BEHAVIOR.
5-A. WITH THE CONSENT OF THE SUBJECT OF A TEST INDICATING EVIDENCE OF
HIV INFECTION OR, IF THE SUBJECT LACKS CAPACITY TO CONSENT, THE PERSON
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO LAW TO CONSENT TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE SUBJECT,
THE PERSON WHO ORDERED THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HIV RELATED TEST, OR SUCH
PERSON'S AGENT, SHALL PROVIDE OR ARRANGE WITH A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR
AN APPOINTMENT FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR HIV FOR SUCH SUBJECT.
6. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the performance
of an HIV related test:
(a) by a health care provider or health facility in relation to the
procuring, processing, distributing or use of a human body or a human
body part, including organs, tissues, eyes, bones, arteries, blood,
semen, or other body fluids, for use in medical research or therapy, or
for transplantation to individuals provided, however, that where the
test results are communicated to the subject, post-test counseling, as
described in subdivision five of this section, shall nonetheless be
required; or
(b) for the purpose of research if the testing is performed in a
manner by which the identity of the test subject is not known and may
not be retrieved by the researcher; or
(c) on a deceased person, when such test is conducted to determine the
cause of death or for epidemiological purposes.
(d) conducted pursuant to section twenty-five hundred-f of this chap-
ter.
7. In the event that an HIV related test is ordered by a physician or
certified nurse practitioner pursuant to the provisions of the education
law providing for non-patient specific regimens, then for the purposes
of this section the individual administering the test shall be deemed to
be the individual ordering the test.
S 3. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2781-a
to read as follows:
S 2781-A. REQUIRED OFFERING OF HIV RELATED TESTING. 1. EVERY PHYSI-
CIAN, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, NURSE PRACTITIONER, OR MIDWIFE PROVIDING
PRIMARY CARE, OR CARE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF A GENERAL HOSPITAL
AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION TEN OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF
THIS CHAPTER, SHALL OFFER TO PERFORM OR OFFER TO ORDER, OR ARRANGE FOR
THE PERFORMANCE OF AN HIV RELATED TEST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL BETWEEN THE
AGES OF EIGHTEEN AND SIXTY-FOUR WHO APPLIES FOR OR RECEIVES HEALTH
SERVICES FROM SUCH HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER, UNLESS THE HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONER REASONABLY BELIEVES THAT (A) THE INDIVIDUAL IS BEING TREAT-
ED FOR A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY; OR (B) THE INDIVIDUAL HAS RECEIVED
AN HIV RELATED TEST IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS; OR (C) THE INDIVIDUAL
LACKS CAPACITY TO CONSENT TO AN HIV RELATED TEST. AS USED IN THIS SUBDI-
VISION, "PRIMARY CARE" MEANS THE MEDICAL FIELDS OF FAMILY MEDICINE,
GENERAL PEDIATRICS, PRIMARY CARE INTERNAL MEDICINE, PRIMARY CARE OBSTET-
RICS, OR PRIMARY CARE GYNECOLOGY, WITHOUT REGARD TO BOARD CERTIFICATION.
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2. THE OFFERING OF HIV RELATED TESTING UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES AND
REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
3. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF ANY HEALTH
CARE PRACTITIONER OR DIMINISH ANY AUTHORITY OR LEGAL OR PROFESSIONAL
OBLIGATION OF ANY HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER TO OFFER AN HIV RELATED TEST
OR TO PROVIDE SERVICES OR CARE FOR THE SUBJECT OF AN HIV RELATED TEST.
S 4. Subdivision 8 of section 2782 of the public health law, as
amended by chapter 76 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as
follows:
8. Confidential HIV related information shall be recorded in the
medical record of the protected individual. The provisions of this
section shall not prohibit the listing of acquired immune deficiency
syndrome, HIV related illness or HIV infection in a certificate of
death, autopsy report or related documents prepared pursuant to article
forty-one of this chapter or other applicable laws, ordinances, rules or
regulations relating to the documentation of cause of death, nor shall
this section be construed to modify any laws, ordinances, rules or regu-
lations relative to access to death certificates, autopsy reports or
such other related documents. Under no circumstances shall confidential
HIV related information be disclosable pursuant to article six of the
public officers law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential HIV
information obtained pursuant to section 390.15 of the criminal proce-
dure law or section 347.1 of the family court act by either court order
or consent of the protected individual shall not be recorded in the
medical record of the protected individual unless he or she consents to
the recording of such information in a written statement containing the
relevant information [specified] in [subdivision two of] section [two
thousand seven] TWENTY-SEVEN hundred eighty-one of this article.
S 5. Subdivision 2 of section 2785-a of the public health law, as
added by chapter 76 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
2. At the time of communicating the test results to the subject or the
victim, such public health officer shall directly provide the victim and
person tested with (a) counseling or referrals for counseling for the
purposes specified in [subdivision five of] section [two thousand seven]
TWENTY-SEVEN hundred eighty-one of this article; (b) counseling with
regard to HIV disease and HIV testing in accordance with law and
consistent with [subdivision five of] section [two thousand seven] TWEN-
TY-SEVEN hundred eighty-one of this article; and (c) appropriate health
care and support services, or referrals to such available services. If
at the time of communicating the test results, the person tested is in
the custody of the department of correctional services, division for
youth, office of mental health or a local correctional institution, the
counseling and services required by this subdivision may be provided by
a public health officer associated with the county or facility within
which the person tested is confined.
S 6. The commissioner of health shall report to the governor and the
legislature two years after the effective date of this act, and again
four years after the effective date of this act, on the implementation
of this act and the affect of this act on the frequency of HIV related
testing and other outcomes, and making recommendations relating to this
act. The commissioner of health may contract with bona fide organiza-
tions seeking to evaluate the implementation and affect of this act,
consistent with the protection of the confidentiality of individual
identifying information.
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S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall become a law; provided that the commissioner of health shall,
prior to the effective date of this act, make regulations and take any
other actions to implement this act on such date.