121345

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 121345




121345.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that therapeutic
monitoring is necessary to make appropriate life-prolonging and
cost-effective treatment decisions in the management of HIV disease.
   (b) The Director of the Office of AIDS may provide funding for the
coverage of therapeutic monitoring assays for HIV disease through
the State HIV Therapeutic Monitoring Program.
   (c) (1) The purpose of the program under this chapter shall be to
provide the therapeutic assays for HIV-positive people who could not
otherwise afford them.
   (2) The scope of the program shall be determined by the federal
and state guidelines for standards of HIV care and availability of
funding.
   (3) Priority for funding under the State HIV Therapeutic
Monitoring Program shall be given to the state-funded Early
Intervention Program sites.
   (d) Therapeutic monitoring under this chapter shall include, but
not be limited to, viral load and resistance assays.
   (e) Coverage awards shall be made to counties on the basis of
need. The determination of awards shall be made by the Office of
AIDS, depending on the availability of state and federal funding for
the program. Counties may cover those assays that are determined to
be necessary and are not covered under the state program.