HB0904 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 07005 DRJ 37128 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0904

Introduced 2/2/2005, by Rep. Constance A. Howard

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Hepatitis C Screening and Awareness Act. Requires the Department of Public Health to establish an Advisory Council on Hepatitis C to review, recommend changes to, and solicit funds to implement a Hepatitis C prevention plan. Requires the Department to (i) establish and promote Hepatitis C educational programs as an integral part of its health promotion and disease prevention efforts in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health care professionals and human services providers and (ii) identify resources for Hepatitis C education, screening, and treatment and coordinate the efforts of existing organizations with new programs and with each other so as to maximize education and access to services. Sets forth strategies that the Department may use to raise public awareness of the causes, including risk factors, and the nature of Hepatitis C, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease. Requires the Department to use the strategies, protocols, and guidelines adopted by the National Institute of Public Health on Hepatitis C for educating physicians and health professionals and training providers on the most recent scientific and medical information on Hepatitis C detection, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decision-making. Provides that the following persons shall be screened for Hepatitis C using the most cost-efficient methods available and using generally accepted protocols for screening: (1) prisoners entering State correctional institutions or facilities; and (2) employees of the Department of Corrections who come into contact with the blood or body fluids of a prisoner. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Hepatitis C Screening and Awareness Act.

Section 5. Definition. In this Act, "Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Section 10. Advisory Council; educational programs and resources.

(a) The Department shall establish an Advisory Council on Hepatitis C to review, recommend changes to, and solicit funds to implement a Hepatitis C prevention plan. The Department shall specify the membership, members' terms, provisions for removal of members, chairman, and purpose of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council shall consist of one representative from each of the following State agencies or offices, appointed by the head of each agency or office:

(1) The Department of Public Health.

(2) The Department of Public Aid.

(3) The Department of Corrections.

(4) The Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(5) The Department on Aging.

(6) The Department of Human Services.

(7) The Department of State Police.

(8) Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The Advisory Council shall also include representatives of organizations and advocates in the State of Illinois, including, but not limited to, the American Liver Foundation. The Advisory Council shall also include interested members of the public, including consumers and providers of health services, to provide recommendations and information to the Advisory Council.

(b) The Department shall establish and promote Hepatitis C educational programs as an integral part of its health promotion and disease prevention efforts in order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health care professionals and human services providers.

(c) The Department shall identify resources for Hepatitis C education, screening, and treatment and shall coordinate the efforts of existing organizations with new programs and with each other so as to maximize education and access to services.

Section 15. Strategies for raising public awareness. The Department may use the following strategies for raising public awareness of the causes, including risk factors, and the nature of Hepatitis C, the value of prevention and early detection, and options for diagnosing and treating the disease:

(1) An outreach campaign utilizing print, radio, and television public service announcements, advertisements, posters, and other materials.

(2) Community forums.

(3) Health information and risk factor assessments at public events.

(4) Targeting at-risk populations.

(5) Providing reliable information to policy makers.

(6) Distributing information through local health agencies, schools, employer wellness programs, physicians, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, prisons, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, State fairs, and Department and local public health offices.

(7) Identifying and obtaining educational materials, including brochures and videotapes, that translate accurately the latest scientific information on Hepatitis C into easy-to-understand terms.

(8) Building a statewide capacity to provide information and referrals on all aspects of Hepatitis C, including, but not limited to, educational materials, counseling, and patient support groups.

Section 20. Educating physicians and health professionals. The Department shall use the strategies, protocols, and guidelines adopted by the National Institute of Public Health on Hepatitis C for educating physicians and health professionals and training providers on the most recent scientific and medical information on Hepatitis C detection, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decision-making. The guidelines may include, but need not be limited to, the following:

(1) Tracking and reporting of both acute and chronic cases of Hepatitis C by public health officials.

(2) A cost-efficient plan to screen the prison population.

(3) Protocols that may be used within the Department of Corrections to enable the Department of Corrections to provide appropriate treatment to prisoners with Hepatitis C.

(4) Protocols for the education of correctional officers and other correctional employees who come into contact with prisoners diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

(5) Protocols for the education of public safety and public health employees who come into contact with persons diagnosed with Hepatitis C.

Section 25. Hepatitis C screenings required. The following persons shall be screened for Hepatitis C using the most cost-efficient methods available and using generally accepted protocols for screening:

(1) Prisoners entering State correctional institutions or facilities.

(2) Employees of the Department of Corrections who come into contact with the blood or body fluids of a prisoner.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.