News & Events

New Advisory Out on Recently Passed HIV Screening Law in Mass.

Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the final version of SB 2158–An Act increasing screening for HIV—which became Chapter 84 of the Acts of 2012. This change in state law removes the requirement to obtain written informed consent prior to HIV testing.   The bill now allows for verbal informed consent from the individual being tested. The confidentiality protections for disclosing the results of a person’s HIV test or disclosing/releasing medical records containing such information remain the same, requiring written informed consent. The law takes effect on July 26, 2012. The updated ADVISORY can be found at