HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1934        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2021

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jason M. Lewis

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act providing for a viral hepatitis prevention, screening, treatment and education program.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1934        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2021

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act providing for a viral hepatitis prevention, screening, treatment and education program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out Section 4M and inserting in place thereof, the following section:

Section 4M. The department shall:

(a)Conduct a needs assessment to determine the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Massachusetts ;

(b)Develop and implement a program to prevent further transmission of viral hepatitis and to prevent onset of chronic liver disease caused by viral hepatitis;

(c)Develop and implement a statewide public education and community outreach program, subject to appropriation, to raise awareness about and promote prevention of viral hepatitis;

(d)Develop or approve evidence based educational materials on the risks, diagnosis , treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis.  These materials shall be made available in written and electronic form.  These materials shall be targeted to physicians and other health care providers, current and former members of the armed services, incarcerated persons, persons born between the years 1945 and 1965, youth, racial and ethnic minorities, and other persons subject to increased risk of contracting viral hepatitis as determined by the department.

(e)Support the establishment and maintenance of a chronic and acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C surveillance program, in order to identify:

i.trends in the incidence of acute and chronic hepatitis B and acute and chronic hepatitis C

ii.trends in the prevalence of acute and chronic hepatitis B and acute and chronic hepatitis C infection among groups that may be disproportionately affected; and

iii.trends in liver cancer and end-stage liver disease incidence and deaths, caused by chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C in the high-risk ethnic populations

(f)Report on its viral hepatitis education, awareness, and prevention education and community outreach efforts to the joint committee on public health, and the House and Senate committees on ways and means annually, beginning on January 1, 2014.