SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1997        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1485

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

_________________

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 improving Hepatitis C screening.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Mark C. Montigny

Second Bristol and Plymouth

 

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/24/2021

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

3/1/2021

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/8/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1997        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1485

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1485) of Mark C. Montigny, Elizabeth A. Malia, Brian M. Ashe and Michael O. Moore for legislation to improve Hepatitis C screening.  Public Health.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1303 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act improving Hepatitis C screening.

 

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. Section 4M½ of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(b) Every person over the age of 18 who receives health care services from a primary care provider shall be offered a hepatitis C screening test or a Hepatitis C diagnostic test unless the provider believes that: (i) the person is being treated for a life threatening emergency; (ii) the person has previously been offered or has received a hepatitis screening test; or (iii) the person lacks capacity to consent to a hepatitis C screening test.

SECTION 2. Section 4M½ of chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby further amended by adding the following subsections:-

(c) The Department shall make and from time to time revise regulations establishing in furtherance of the hepatitis C screening or hepatitis C diagnostic test requirements under subsection (b). 

(d) Such regulations required under subsection (c) shall include: (i) the frequency with which a primary care provider must offer a hepatitis C screening test or hepatitis C diagnostic test; and (ii) fines and/or penalties for non-compliance with such regulations. 

(e) The Department shall promulgate the initial regulations required under subsection (c) and (d) not later than October 1, 2021.