Georgia AIDS Coalition

MMWR: Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings

These recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing are intended for all health-care providers in the public and private sectors, including those working in hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, inpatient services, substance abuse treatment clinics, public health clinics, community clinics, correctional health-care facilities, and primary care settings. (9/22/06)

Report Examines Racial, Ethnic Disparities in HIV/AIDS Diagnoses

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),“Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Diagnoses of HIV/AIDS,” finds a racially disproportionate number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. According to the report, of the estimated 157,252 HIV cases diagnosed from 2001 to 2004, the number of cases and rate of diagnoses were higher among blacks than all other racial or ethnic groups combined. The report calls for a comprehensive national program to address the disparity and improve partnerships among governmental agencies, community and faith-based organizations, and the public.

Kaiser Family Foundation Updates HIV/AIDS-Related Fact Sheets

• “The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic“: The fact sheet examines the global response to the pandemic and its economic impact, as well as provides new data on the state of epidemics by geographic region, gender and age.
• “The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States“: The fact sheet includes the most recent HIV prevalence estimates in the U.S., as well as key trends in the U.S. epidemic and data on the government’s response.
• “Medicaid and HIV/AIDS“: The fact sheet includes information on Medicaid eligibility, benefits, spending, caseload and the profile of HIV-positive beneficiaries, as well as projections for future outlook of the program.
• “Medicare and HIV/AIDS“: The fact sheet examines coverage provided under Medicare for HIV-positive people and analyzes the impact of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and other aspects of the program’s future.

Georgia Epidemiology Report
The Georgia Epidemiology Report (GER) is a monthly publication of the Epidemiology Branch, Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources. The GER is distributed monthly to over 22,000 physicians, nurses, laboratories, and public health officials throughout the State of Georgia. The GER’s focus is on public health issues in Georgia, but it may also report on national health issues.