State Rep. Betty Price suggests "quarantine" for HIV patients

File: Former HHS Secretary Tom Price and State Rep. Betty Price. (PHOTO: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

ATLANTA — Georgia Rep. Betty Price, R-Roswell, in a study committee this week asked if the government could “quarantine” people with HIV.

Price is married to Tom Price, who recently resigned as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Her comments came in a discussion of the spread of HIV and disparities in care within the state. The committee is dedicated to examining and addressing barriers to access to healthcare in Georgia.

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“And I don’t want to say the quarantine word, but I guess I just said it,” Price said. “Is there an ability, since I would guess that public dollars are expended heavily in prophylaxis and treatment of this condition. So we have a public interest in curtailing the spread. What would you advise or are there any methods legally that we could do that would curtail the spread?”

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Price's statements were first reported by Project Q Atlanta.