Translate

Description: In this report, we identify significant problems in the state’s ability to accurately track AIDS–related cases. These gaps in the surveillance database weaken the state’s ability to use it as an effective tool to track and respond to trends in the disease. These problems also affect the state’s ability to collect additional federal funding that could otherwise be available to offset the cost of state AIDS programs. We recommend two actions that the state could take: First, have the state Office of AIDS (OA) take steps to ensure that persons receiving services through state–supported programs are reflected in the HIV surveillance database. Second, require electronic reporting by laboratories that must provide HIV data to local health departments. These changes, our analysis indicates, would make the state’s surveillance database more complete, improve the state’s knowledge of disease trends, and make the state more competitive for federal AIDS funding.