MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 7 No. 15
December 14, 2001
In This Issue:
AIDS Action Day Set for February 28
Take Action! Register for AIDS Action Day. Check Out
the Three Ways to Register.
Privacy Issues Emerge as the Focus of the 2002 Legislative
Session
On Watch For Session: Saving Workplace Education,
Budget Cuts, Quarantine Laws & Sex Ed Attacks
AIDS Action Day Set For February 28
Your opportunity to be heard by lawmakers on HIV policy is AIDS Action
Day on February 28. Last year, 150 advocates came to the State Capitol
in St. Paul to talk to legislators about the need for fair and effective
policies around HIV. The need to make sure lawmakers hear from advocates
about HIV issues remains just as important this year. Participating in
AIDS Action Day is easy; all you need to do is register. MAP will arrange
meetings with your legislators and provide you with materials to prepare
you to lobby. With your help, we can make sure legislators know that HIV
issues still matter in 2002.
One: By Mail
Just fill out the postcard included with this MAP Advocate and drop it
in the mail. It is already addressed and stamped for your convenience.
Two: On the Web
Go to our website at www.mnaidsproject.org and look for the AIDS Action
Day page. Everything you need to register is right there.
Three: Make a Call
Give us a call at 612-341-2060 in the metro area or 1-800-248-2437 in
Greater Minnesota.
Privacy Issues Emerge as the Focus of the 2002
Legislative Session
Improving privacy around people's medical records will be the top priority
for MAP's 2002 legislative session. Despite new federal privacy rules
issued this spring, serious gaps remain in how much health information
is released without one's authorization.
MAP will push to prohibit the release of medical records by insurers to
employers and prohibit the health industry from using health information
for marketing purposes without first obtaining one's consent. In addition,
MAP will seek increased penalties for a breach in confidentiality, and
expand the definition of medical record to ensure that information shared
orally is protected under our privacy laws.
On Watch For Session: Saving Workplace Education,
Budget Cuts, Quarantine Laws & Sex Ed Attacks
With the announcement of the $2 billion dollar deficit, state officials
moved to suspend state contracts for a variety of services including MAP's
contract for providing workplace education that was appropriated last
session. MAP will work to keep the contract in place and defend against
other potential cuts to the HIV budget.
Also of concern this session is attempts to implement quarantine laws
in the face of bioterroism threats. Already quarantine legislation has
been introduced that is drafted so broadly it could be interpreted to
allow public health officials to quarantine someone with HIV. Attacks
on sex ed are expected, as well as restrictions on sexually explicit HIV
prevention materials targeting the gay community, known as "no promo
homo". These restrictions are in light of allegations of fraud and
abuse of federal money to fight AIDS in a number of cities including San
Francisco.
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Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
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