NCCHC AMENDS POLICY ON - HIV MANAGEMENT - Policy Statement Regarding The Administrative Management Of HIV In Corrections

Sep 29, 2026

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November 13, 1991 issue describes how the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) amended its policy for administratively managing HIV in prisons, jails, and juvenile confinement facilities. The amendments address universal precautions, staff and inmate education, voluntary testing for correctional health professionals, and rules on disclosure of HIV status when healthcare workers are involved in invasive procedures. It also provides background on NCCHC’s mission, accreditation program, and governance, and references related administrative coverage in the same issue.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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NCCHC Amends Policy On

Administrative Management

HIV Management: NCCHC Amends Policy

ISSN 0010-9045 Vol.22 No.23 November 13,1991 # NCCHC AMENDS POLICY ON IN THIS ISSUE # ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT HIV MANAGEMENT: NCCHC Amends Policy………………1 # OF HIV IN CORRECTIONS FLORIDA DOC: Settlement At its recent meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Reached In Sex Discrimination Case……………………1 the Board of Directors of the National Commission JOB LISTINGS………………………………………………………………………………4 on Correctional Health Care(NCCHC) amended its policy on the management of Human Immunodefi- TEXAS: Executes Inmate…………………………………………………………5 ciency Virus(HIV) disease in U.S. prisons,jails, and juvenile confinement facilities. SUPREME COURT: Limits Liability Protections……………5 FLORIDA: Applicant Testing Inadequate………………………6 "This action reflects NCCHC's continuing concern over the HIV epidemic in correctional TEXAS: Drug Felons Get More Early Releases………………7 facilities," commented Carl C. Bell, M.D., chair- man of the NCCHC Board of Directors. "The rate STATES: More Money Problems Coming………………………7 of HIV infection is believed to be higher in correc- AIDS: New Drug May Prolong Lives………………………………8 tional settings than in the general population, basedon inmates' reports of high risk behavior. It is a PENNSYLVANIA:The Bible Is Tabo……………………………………9 serious health problem that we will continue to RHODE ISLAND: Transfers Rioters………………………………………9 monitor." TEXAS: Voters OK Prison Bonds……………………………………10 NCCHC amended its policy calling for: ST. LOUIS: Inmate Charged 1. Adherence to universal precautions as With Trying To Spread AIDS Virus…………………………10 defined by the Federal Centers for Dis- ease Control(CDC)[e.g., wearing of gloves, disinfection and sterilization of RECORD SETTLEMENT REACHED equipment, etc.] by all health services IN FLORIDA DOC SEX professionals in the correctional setting. DISCRIMINATION CASE (section III a) 2. Education for all correctional staff and A sex discrimination lawsuit filed against the inmates on the modes of HIV trans- Florida Department of Corrections(FDC) has been mission, prevention, treatment,and dis- settled for a record $3.7 million, authorities said ease progression.(section IV) Oct. 30 in Washington, D.C. 3. Voluntary, not mandatory, testing for HIV infection for all correctional health The settlement still must be approved by a Federal district court, said Acting Attorney General professionals who seek it in order to facil- itate early detection and treatment of HIV William P.Barr and Assistant Attorney General for infection.(sections I&VII a) Civil Rights John R.Dunne. (See DISCRIMINATION,page four) (HIV POLICY,from page one) 4.Non-disclosure of HIV status by healthcare workers whose work does notinclude involvement in invasive proce-dures as defined by the CDC.Healthcare workers who are HIV-positive andwho are involved in invasive proceduresshould disclose their seropositive status toappropriate medical and administrativeauthorities in the facility.Decisions onthe health care worker's ability to per-form specific procedures should be decid-ed on an individual,case by case basis(section VIII b&c) "Our policy statements are intended to serveas guides to the delivery of health services incorrectional settings,"said NCCHC PolicyCommittee Chairman Bonnie Norman,R.N."These new amendments are important additions toNCCHC's current HIV policy statement whichaddresses,among other things,voluntary testing ofinmates,housing,confidentiality,and availabilityof counseling for HIV positive inmates." NCCHC is a not-for-profit organizationworking to improve the quality of care in jails,prisons,and juvenile confinement facilities.Incor-porated in 1983 as a result of an American MedicalAssociation(AMA)program,NCCHC establisheshealth standards for correctional facilities andoperates a voluntary accreditation program forinstitutions that meet these standards.Additionally,NCCHC produces and disseminates resource pu

FAQs

What prompted NCCHC to amend its HIV policy for corrections?

NCCHC amended its policy to address ongoing concern over the HIV epidemic in correctional facilities and the belief that infection rates may be higher there than in the general population.

What universal precautions does the amended NCCHC policy require?

The policy calls for adherence to universal precautions as defined by the CDC, including measures such as wearing gloves and performing disinfection and sterilization of equipment by all health services professionals in the correctional setting.

Does the amended policy allow voluntary HIV testing, and for whom?

Yes. It calls for voluntary, not mandatory, testing for HIV infection for all correctional health professionals who seek it to facilitate early detection and treatment.

Sep 29, 2026

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