FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 8
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BANKS.
Pre-filed December 1, 1998, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
S0074.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the establishment of hepatitis C education programs.
Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 191.751, to read as follows:
191.751. 1. In order to raise public awareness, educate consumers, and educate and train health care professionals and human service providers, the department of health may be responsible for:
(1) Establishing and promoting hepatitis C education programs as an integral part of its health promotion and disease prevention efforts; and
(2) Collecting resources in the area of hepatitis C education, screening, and treatment that accurately translates the latest scientific information on hepatitis C in easy to understand terms.
2. The department of health may use the following strategies to raise public awareness about the causes of hepatitis C, personal risk factors, 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 assessment 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, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, prisons, sports leagues, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, state fairs and department of health offices; and
(7) Building a statewide network to provide information and referrals on all aspects of hepatitis C, including, but not limited to, educational materials, counseling, and patient support groups.
3. The department of health shall use the strategies, protocols, and guidelines adopted by the National Institutes of Health 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. Specifically, the guidelines may include tracking and reporting of both acute and chronic cases of hepatitis C by public health officials.
4. The duties prescribed in this section shall be subject to appropriations by the general assembly.