Illinois Governor Signs Prenatal HIV Testing Law
Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) on Friday signed a bill (SB 1254) that will require many health insurers in the state to cover prenatal HIV screening, the Chicago Tribune reports. Under the law, sponsored by state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R), the test is voluntary. Several years ago, a similar bill failed to pass the General Assembly because it mandated that all pregnant women submit to the test. "This presents an opportunity for a woman to voluntarily choose this test," state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D), who "shepherded" the bill through the House, said, adding that the test, and subsequent treatment, can "diminish" the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child (Parsons/Long, Chicago Tribune, 7/22).
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