2015 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:1171.1 - Purpose; intent; insurance and R.S. 40:1157.3 not affected

SUBPART B. CONFIDENTIALITY OF HIV TEST RESULTS

§1171.1. Purpose; intent; insurance and R.S. 40:1157.3 not affected

            The legislature recognizes that confidentiality protection for information related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an essential public health measure. In order to retain the full trust and confidence of persons at risk, the state has an interest both in assuring that HIV test results are not improperly disclosed and in having clear and certain rules for the disclosure of such information. By providing additional protection for the confidentiality of HIV test results, the legislature intends to encourage the expansion of voluntary confidential testing for HIV so that individuals may come forward, learn their health status, make decisions regarding the appropriate treatment, and change behaviors that put them and others at risk of infection. The legislature also recognizes that confidentiality protections can limit the risk of discrimination and the harm to an individual's interest in privacy that unauthorized disclosure of HIV test results can cause. It is not the intent of the legislature to create any new right, right of action, or cause of action or eliminate any right, right of action, or cause of action existing under current law. It is further not the intent of the legislature that this Chapter repeal, amend, or in any way affect the provisions of R.S. 40:1157.3 relative to the ability of a physician or employee of a hospital who may become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus to test the blood of a patient without the patient's consent. It is the intent of the legislature that in the case of a person applying for or already insured under an insurance policy, who will be or has been the subject of a test to determine infection for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), all facets of insurers' practices in connection with HIV related testing and HIV test results and all facets of other entities' and individuals' interactions with insurers relating to HIV related testing or HIV test results shall be governed exclusively by Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto by the commissioner of the Department of Insurance who shall have the authority to promulgate such regulations.

            Acts 1991, No. 1054, §1; Acts 2012, No. 600, §2, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 759, §2, eff. June 12, 2012; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1300.11 by HCR 84 of 2015 R.S.