What kind of assistance will the New York State and City Health Departments offer in instances where a newly diagnosed person fails to return for test results and post-test counseling?
In instances where the newly identified HIV-infected patient has not returned for post-test counseling, the HIV Partner Services (PS)/Contact Notification Assistance Program (CNAP) Specialist can assist the medical provider in locating the person to advise them to return to the medical provider for post-test counseling. When positive results are verbally confirmed by the testing provider and the provider requests such assistance, the HIV PS/CNAP Specialist can perform post test counseling on behalf of the provider. If there are partners known to the medical provider, including spouses, and if after repeated follow-up efforts the index patient cannot be located or chooses not to return for post-test counseling and/or domestic violence screening, the authorized public health official, in consultation with the reporting medical provider, determines whether notification of known partners should proceed. This decision will primarily be based on the likelihood of the index patient returning
