California
assembly approves HIV names-based reporting

The California assembly on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a bill that would scrap the state's codes-based system for reporting HIV cases and adopt names-based reporting, the Los Angeles Times reports. The alphanumeric code system currently used in California is inaccurate, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which plans to soon begin tying federal Ryan White AIDS grants to HIV case data from states that have names-based reporting systems. California could lose tens of millions in federal AIDS funds each year by continuing its codes-based reporting system.

The California senate approved the bill in January; the version passed by the assembly will go back to the senate for a review of technical changes. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will sign the legislation into law when it reaches his desk. (The Advocate)