Fulton County will pay $350,000 to a program of Grady Memorial Hospital to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care, with a goal of screening 1,500 patients a month for the virus that causes AIDS.
The aim is to provide HIV-infected persons access to medical, behavioral, counseling and other services. Testing will be offered to patients of Grady Emergency Care Center, Primary Care Clinics, Neighborhood Health Clinics and the Grady Walk-In Center for urgent care.
Patients who test positive will be referred to the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness, which would help patients obtain medical care and enroll in the Ryan White Primary Care Program, a federal program that assists patients with HIV/AIDS.
County commissioners recently voted to approve the program. It begins immediately and runs through Dec. 31, with options to renew for successive one-year terms.
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