Congress begins discussions on partner notification bill.

AIDS: Representatives Gary Ackerman and Tom Coburn have introduced a HIV Partner Protection Act that would identify partners who are at risk for HIV and provide them with information on appropriate treatment or counseling programs. The legislation is patterned after New York's partner notification law and requires that physicians confidentially notify public health departments of patients who are HIV-positive, and provide names of the patient's sex and drug partners. Leading AIDS policy groups and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have criticized the legislation, fearing that mandatory reporting may cause people to avoid diagnosis and treatment. Ryan White funding may be tied to compliance with this legislation.^ieng