HB0595 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 07033 RSP 37173 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0595

Introduced 1/27/2005, by Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2310/2310-376

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law. Requires the Department of Public Health to develop and make available to physicians, other health care providers, members of the armed services, and other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis C certain educational materials on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Makes changes to the statement of legislative purpose to recognize that members of the armed forces are at an increased risk of contracting the disease. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to educational materials on hepatitis C for veterans.

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

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 2310-376 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-376)

Sec. 2310-376. Hepatitis C education and outreach.

(a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the following:

(1) The World Health Organization characterizes Hepatitis C as a disease of primary concern to humanity.

(2) Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver damage has occurred.

(3) Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans (1.8 percent of the population) carry the virus HCV that causes the disease.

(4) 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the United States, and only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed.

(5) 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease each year.

(6) 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly liver disease.

(7) Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher incidence of Hepatitis C and, upon their release, present a significant health risk to the general population.

(8) Illinois members of the armed services are subject to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis C due to their possible receipt of contaminated blood during a transfusion occurring for the treatment of wounds and due to their service in areas of the World where the disease is more prevalent and healthcare is less capable of detecting and treating the disease. Many of these service members are unaware of the danger of Hepatitis C and their increased risk of contracting the disease.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall conduct an education and outreach campaign, in addition to its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois, in order to raise awareness about and promote prevention of Hepatitis C.

(c) In addition to the education and outreach campaign provided in subsection (b), the Department shall develop and make available to physicians, other health care providers, members of the armed services, and other persons subject to an increased risk of contracting Hepatitis C, educational materials, in written and electronic forms, on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. These materials shall include the recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and any other persons or entities determined by the Department to have particular expertise on Hepatitis C, including the American Liver Foundation. These materials shall be written in terms that are understandable by members of the general public.

(Source: P.A. 93-129, eff. 1-1-04.)

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