Congresswoman Waters, 43 House Democrats Send Letter in Support of HIV Screening for Teens and Adults Ages 15-65

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) led a letter that was signed by 43 House Democrats that is being sent to the Chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTP) today to express support for the task force's draft recommendation, which proposes that all adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65, as well as younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk and all pregnant women, should be screened for HIV infection:

As Congresswoman Waters wrote in her letter, "The draft recommendation is a long overdue improvement over the previous "C" grade and recommendation that HIV screening be provided only to individuals in high risk groups. Many of those who are infected with HIV do not fall into high risk categories or may not realize that they are at risk for HIV.

Further, the letter states, "We strongly urge the USPSTF to confirm its support for HIV screening by finalizing the "A" grade draft recommendation as soon as possible."

Full text of the letter to Dr. Virginia Moyer, Chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is below.

Dr. Virginia Moyer, M.D, M.P.H
Chair
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Dr. Moyer:

As Members of Congress who are concerned about the impact of HIV/AIDS, we write to express our strong support for the draft recommendation of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on screening for HIV. We commend the draft recommendation, which gives HIV screening an "A" grade and recommends that all adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65, as well as younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk and all pregnant women, should be screened for HIV infection. The proposed changes in recommendation and grade promise to dramatically expand screening for HIV.

There are over 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today, and about one in five of them do not know they are infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 50,000 new HIV infections every year, and more than 17,000 people with AIDS died in 2009.

HIV screening allows HIV-positive individuals to learn of their status and begin medical treatment to prolong their lives and maintain their health and productivity. Recent scientific research also proves that HIV-positive individuals are less likely to transmit the virus to other persons if they have a suppressed viral load as a result of treatment. Thus, HIV screening helps reduce new HIV infections, increase access to treatment for those who are infected, and improve public health overall.

The draft recommendation is a long overdue improvement over the previous "C" grade and recommendation that HIV screening be provided only to individuals in high risk groups. Many of those who are infected with HIV do not fall into high risk categories or may not realize that they are at risk for HIV. About 27% of new infections involve heterosexual transmission, and women account for 23% of new infections. People of color have been impacted severely, with African Americans accounting for 44% of new infections and Hispanics/Latinos accounting for 20%. Approximately 68% of new infections are among people of color.

The draft recommendation brings the USPSTF into closer alignment with the CDC, which recommends routine voluntary HIV screening in health care settings for patients ages 13 to 64, regardless of risk. The draft recommendation is also consistent with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which was released by the White House in July of 2010 and which seeks to increase the percentage of people living with HIV who know their status.

The "A" grade is especially critical as most private health insurers are required to cover all grade A and B services without cost-sharing under the Affordable Care Act. Health insurance coverage of HIV screening without cost-sharing could significantly increase the number of people who actually obtain HIV tests. Consequently, it could significantly increase the percentage of people living with HIV who know their status and are receiving appropriate care and treatment.
We strongly urge the USPSTF to confirm its support for HIV screening by finalizing the "A" grade draft recommendation as soon as possible. These changes in the USPSTF's recommendation and grade can move us closer to creating an AIDS free generation.

Sincerely,
Maxine Waters
Barbara Lee
Jim McDermott
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Donna Christensen
Madeleine Z. Bordallo
Raúl M. Grijalva
André Carson
Yvette D. Clarke
Hansen Clarke
Wm. Lacy Clay
Emanuel Cleaver II
John Conyers
Elijah E. Cummings
Danny K. Davis
Ted Deutch
Eliot L. Engel
Janice Hahn
Alcee L. Hastings
Maurice D. Hinchey
Mike Honda
Sheila Jackson Lee
Hank Johnson
Eleanor Holmes Norton
John Olver
Mike Quigley
Charles Rangel
Laura Richardson
Bobby Rush
Jan Schakowsky
Adam B. Schiff
Edolphus Towns
Melvin Watt
Lynn Woolsey
Robert A. Brady
David N. Cicilline
John Lewis
Jared Polis
Jerrold Nadler
Gwen Moore
Betty McCollum
Steve Cohen
Gary Peters
Rush Holt

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