§ 19a-7o — Hepatitis C and HIV-related testing.

Connecticut § 19a-7o

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 19a: Public Health and Well-Being
• Ch. 368a: Department of Public Health

Text

(a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Hepatitis C screening test” means a laboratory test that detects the presence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in the blood; (2) “Hepatitis C diagnostic test” means a laboratory test that detects the presence of hepatitis C virus in the blood and provides confirmation of whether the person whose blood is being tested has a hepatitis C virus infection; (3) “HIV infection” means infection with the human immunodeficiency virus or any other related virus identified as a probable causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Public Health Service; (4) “HIV–related test” means any laboratory test or series of tests for any virus, antibody, antigen or etiologic agent whatsoever thought to cause or indicate the presence of HIV infection; (5) “Primary care provider” means a physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant who provides primary care services and is licensed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to title 20; and (6) “Primary care” means the medical fields of family medicine, general pediatrics, primary care, internal medicine, primary care obstetrics or primary care gynecology, without regard to board certification. (b) A primary care provider shall offer to provide to, or order for, each patient eighteen years of age and older, and each pregnant woman a hepatitis C screening test or hepatitis C diagnostic test at the time the primary care provider provides services to such patient, except a primary care provider is not required to offer to provide to, or order for, such patient a hepatitis C screening test or hepatitis C diagnostic test when the primary care provider reasonably believes: (1) Such patient is being treated for a life-threatening emergency; (2) such patient has previously been offered or has received a hepatitis C screening test; or (3) such patient lacks the capacity to consent to a hepatitis C screening test. (c) On and after January 1, 2023, a primary care provider, or such provider's designee, shall offer to provide to, order for, or arrange for the order for, each patient who is thirteen years of age or older, an HIV-related test, except a primary care provider, or such provider's designee, is not required to offer to provide to, or order for, such patient an HIV-related test when the primary care provider reasonably believes: (1) Such patient is being treated for a life-threatening emergency; (2) such patient has previously been offered or has received an HIV-related test; or (3) such patient lacks the capacity to consent to an HIV-related test. The primary care provider, or such provider's designee, shall comply with all requirements concerning HIV-related testing and HIV-related information prescribed in chapter 368x.

Legislative History

(P.A. 14-203, S. 1; P.A. 22-58, S. 68; P.A. 23-31, S. 11; 23-195, S. 9.) History: P.A. 22-58 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdivs. (3) and (4) defining “HIV infection” and “HIV-related test”, redesignated existing Subdivs. (3) and (4) as Subdivs. (5) and (6), amended Subsec. (b) by deleting “On and after October 1, 2014, a” and making a technical change and added Subsec. (c) re provision of HIV-related tests to patients 13 years of age or older; P.A. 23-31 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “who was born between 1945 to 1965, inclusive,” with “eighteen years of age and older, and each pregnant woman”; P.A. 23-195 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by making a technical change.