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4. Improved Surveillance Systems through Reporting and Notification People are living longer without developing a clinical AIDS diagnosis; therefore, an epidemiological surveillance, based on AIDS cases alone no longer provides an accurate reflection of the epidemic. The
Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization of 2000 directed the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to examine whether HIV
reporting and surveillance could be used to restructure its funding
formulas by 2007. HIV surveillance data must be standardized across
the nation, while individual states may implement HIV surveillance
systems that report names or other unique identifiers,. The U.S.
will never have a true picture of the epidemic without accurate
and uniform HIV surveillance from every state in the country.
Further, reliable data on HIV infection would permit rapid response
and long-term planning by local, state, and federal bodies to
impact HIV prevention and care efforts. AIDS Action will work
with its members, Congress, the Administration, and coalition
partners to support the development of an HIV surveillance system
that accurately reflects the U.S. epidemic. [back
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