December 2002

Cal HMOs Must Refer HIV+ Patients

Early this year the California Department of Managed Health Care issued new regulations requiring regulations managed health care plans operating in the state to refer HIV+ patients to specialists in HIV/AIDS for their medical care. A specialist is defined as someone who has cared for at least 20 HIV+ patients during the past two years, and who has demonstrated an understanding of recent HIV/AIDS clinical developments, particularly with regard to antiretroviral treatment. The department director, Daniel Zingale, told the New York Times, “We have to treat people with this disease on a par with other diseases. If you have cancer; you see an oncologist.”