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Part 7. Hepatitis C of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 105. >> Part 7.
This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Hepatitis C Education, Screening, and Treatment Act.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Hepatitis C is classified as a silent killer, where no recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver damage has occurred.
(b) Hepatitis C has been characterized by the World Health Organization as a disease of primary concern to humanity.
(c) Studies indicate that 1.8 percent of the population, nearly 4 million Americans, carry the virus HCV that causes hepatitis C. In California, as many as 500,000 individuals may be carriers and could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly liver disease associated with hepatitis C in their lifetime. An expert panel, convened in March by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), estimated that 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the United States, and only 25 to 30 percent of those are diagnosed. Current data sources indicate that 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from hepatitis C each year.
(d) Studies also indicate that 39.4 percent of male inmates and 54.5 percent of female inmates in California correctional facilities have hepatitis C, 26 times higher than the general population. Upon their release from prison, these inmates present a significant health risk to the general population of California.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to study the adequacy of the health care delivery system as it pertains to hepatitis C.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to urge the department to make funds available to community-based nonprofit organizations for education and outreach with respect to the hepatitis C virus.
(a) Hepatitis C is classified as a silent killer, where no recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver damage has occurred.
(b) Hepatitis C has been characterized by the World Health Organization as a disease of primary concern to humanity.
(c) Studies indicate that 1.8 percent of the population, nearly 4 million Americans, carry the virus HCV that causes hepatitis C. In California, as many as 500,000 individuals may be carriers and could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly liver disease associated with hepatitis C in their lifetime. An expert panel, convened in March by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), estimated that 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in the United States, and only 25 to 30 percent of those are diagnosed. Current data sources indicate that 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from hepatitis C each year.
(d) Studies also indicate that 39.4 percent of male inmates and 54.5 percent of female inmates in California correctional facilities have hepatitis C, 26 times higher than the general population. Upon their release from prison, these inmates present a significant health risk to the general population of California.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to study the adequacy of the health care delivery system as it pertains to hepatitis C.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to urge the department to make funds available to community-based nonprofit organizations for education and outreach with respect to the hepatitis C virus.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall report to the
Legislature on or before March 1, 2001, regarding the use of funds
earmarked by the federal Veteran's Administration to regional offices
in California to educate, screen, and treat veterans with the
hepatitis C virus.
(a) The State Department of Health Services shall make
available protocols and guidelines developed by the National
Institutes of Health, the University of California at San Francisco,
and California legislative advisory committees on hepatitis C for
educating physicians and health professionals and training community
service providers on the most recent scientific and medical
information on hepatitis C detection, transmission, diagnosis,
treatment, and therapeutic decisionmaking.
(b) The guidelines referenced in subdivision (a) may include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Tracking and reporting of both acute and chronic cases of hepatitis C by public health officials.
(2) A cost-efficient plan to screen the prison population and the medically indigent population in California.
(3) Protocols within the Department of Corrections to enable that department to provide appropriate prevention and treatment to prisoners with hepatitis C.
(4) Protocols for the education of correctional peace officers and other correctional workers who work with prisoners with hepatitis C.
(5) Protocols for public safety and health care workers who come in contact with hepatitis C patients.
(6) Surveillance programs to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in ethnic and other high-risk populations.
(7) Education and outreach programs for high-risk individuals, including, but not limited to, individuals who received blood transfusions prior to 1992, hemophiliacs, veterans, women who underwent a caesarian section or premature delivery prior to 1990, persons who received an organ transplant prior to 1990, persons who receive invasive cosmetic procedures, including body piercing and tattooing, students, minority communities, and any other categories of persons at high risk for hepatitis C infection as determined by the director. Education and outreach programs shall be targeted to high-risk individuals as determined by the director. Education programs may provide information and referral on hepatitis C including, but not limited to, education materials developed by health-related companies, community-based or national advocacy organizations, counseling, patient support groups, and existing hotlines for consumers.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the department to develop or produce any protocol, guideline, or proposal.
(b) The guidelines referenced in subdivision (a) may include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Tracking and reporting of both acute and chronic cases of hepatitis C by public health officials.
(2) A cost-efficient plan to screen the prison population and the medically indigent population in California.
(3) Protocols within the Department of Corrections to enable that department to provide appropriate prevention and treatment to prisoners with hepatitis C.
(4) Protocols for the education of correctional peace officers and other correctional workers who work with prisoners with hepatitis C.
(5) Protocols for public safety and health care workers who come in contact with hepatitis C patients.
(6) Surveillance programs to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in ethnic and other high-risk populations.
(7) Education and outreach programs for high-risk individuals, including, but not limited to, individuals who received blood transfusions prior to 1992, hemophiliacs, veterans, women who underwent a caesarian section or premature delivery prior to 1990, persons who received an organ transplant prior to 1990, persons who receive invasive cosmetic procedures, including body piercing and tattooing, students, minority communities, and any other categories of persons at high risk for hepatitis C infection as determined by the director. Education and outreach programs shall be targeted to high-risk individuals as determined by the director. Education programs may provide information and referral on hepatitis C including, but not limited to, education materials developed by health-related companies, community-based or national advocacy organizations, counseling, patient support groups, and existing hotlines for consumers.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the department to develop or produce any protocol, guideline, or proposal.
(a) The Director of Corrections shall do all of the
following:
(1) Provide the budget subcommittees of the Legislature, on or before March 1, 2002, with an annual statistical report on the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in correctional facilities and trends in the incidence and prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in the correctional system.
(2) Establish and make available a voluntary program to test inmates for the presence of the hepatitis C virus upon incarceration and in conjunction with any routine blood testing.
(3) Update treatment protocols and regimens as new therapies become available.
(b) This section shall be implemented only to the extent funds for this purpose have been appropriated in the annual Budget Act.
(1) Provide the budget subcommittees of the Legislature, on or before March 1, 2002, with an annual statistical report on the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in correctional facilities and trends in the incidence and prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in the correctional system.
(2) Establish and make available a voluntary program to test inmates for the presence of the hepatitis C virus upon incarceration and in conjunction with any routine blood testing.
(3) Update treatment protocols and regimens as new therapies become available.
(b) This section shall be implemented only to the extent funds for this purpose have been appropriated in the annual Budget Act.
The Director of Health Services shall do all of the
following:
(a) Develop and implement a public education and outreach program to raise awareness of the hepatitis C virus aimed at high-risk groups, physician's offices, health care workers, and health care facilities. The program shall do all of the following:
(1) Attempt to coordinate with national public education efforts related to the identification and notification of recipients of blood from hepatitis C virus-positive donors.
(2) Attempt to stimulate interest and coordinate with community-based organizations to sponsor community forums and undertake other appropriate community outreach activities.
(3) Employ public communication strategies utilizing a variety of media that may include, but is not limited to, print, radio, television, and the Internet.
(b) Include information on co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hemophilia with the hepatitis C virus in the professional training and all appropriate care and treatment programs under the jurisdiction of the department.
(c) Develop a program to work with the Department of Corrections to identify hepatitis C virus-positive inmates likely to be released within two years and provide counseling and treatment options to reduce the community risk.
(d) Urge local public health officials to make hepatitis C virus screening available for uninsured individuals upon request.
(e) Include hepatitis C counseling, education, and testing, as appropriate, into local state-funded programs including those addressing HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted disease, and all other appropriate programs approved by the director.
(a) Develop and implement a public education and outreach program to raise awareness of the hepatitis C virus aimed at high-risk groups, physician's offices, health care workers, and health care facilities. The program shall do all of the following:
(1) Attempt to coordinate with national public education efforts related to the identification and notification of recipients of blood from hepatitis C virus-positive donors.
(2) Attempt to stimulate interest and coordinate with community-based organizations to sponsor community forums and undertake other appropriate community outreach activities.
(3) Employ public communication strategies utilizing a variety of media that may include, but is not limited to, print, radio, television, and the Internet.
(b) Include information on co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hemophilia with the hepatitis C virus in the professional training and all appropriate care and treatment programs under the jurisdiction of the department.
(c) Develop a program to work with the Department of Corrections to identify hepatitis C virus-positive inmates likely to be released within two years and provide counseling and treatment options to reduce the community risk.
(d) Urge local public health officials to make hepatitis C virus screening available for uninsured individuals upon request.
(e) Include hepatitis C counseling, education, and testing, as appropriate, into local state-funded programs including those addressing HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted disease, and all other appropriate programs approved by the director.
There is hereby established a three-year Hepatitis C
Linkage to Care demonstration pilot project to allow for innovative,
evidence-based approaches to provide outreach, hepatitis C screening,
and linkage to, and retention in, quality health care for the most
vulnerable and underserved individuals living with, or at high risk
for, hepatitis C viral infection (HCV). This demonstration pilot
project is authorized for fiscal years 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18.
(a) Upon an appropriation for the purpose described in
Section 122425 in the annual Budget Act for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and
2017-18 fiscal years, the department shall award funding, on a
competitive basis, to community-based organizations or local health
jurisdictions to operate demonstration pilot projects pursuant to
this chapter. The department shall determine the funding levels of
each demonstration project based on scope and geographic area. Funds
may be used to support other activities consistent with the goals of
this chapter, including the purchase of hepatitis C viral infection
(HCV) test kits, syringe exchange supplies, or other HCV prevention
and linkage to care materials and activities.
(b) An applicant for funding shall demonstrate each of the following qualifications:
(1) Leadership on access to HCV care and testing issues and experience addressing the needs of highly marginalized populations in accessing medical care and support.
(2) Experience with the target population or relationships with community-based organizations or nongovernmental organizations, or both, that demonstrates expertise, history, and credibility working successfully in engaging the target population.
(3) Experience working with nontraditional collaborators who work within and beyond the field of HCV education and outreach, including homeless services, veterans' medical and service programs, substance use disorders treatment, syringe exchange programs, women's health, reproductive health, immigration, mental health, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment.
(4) Strong relationships with community-based HCV health care providers that have the trust of the targeted population.
(5) Strong relationships with the state and local health departments.
(6) Capacity to coordinate a communitywide planning phase involving multiple community collaborators.
(7) Experience implementing evidence-based programs or generating innovative strategies, or both, with at least preliminary evidence of program effectiveness.
(8) Administrative systems and accountability mechanisms for grant management.
(9) Capacity to participate in evaluation activities.
(10) Strong communication systems that are in place to participate in public relations activities.
(b) An applicant for funding shall demonstrate each of the following qualifications:
(1) Leadership on access to HCV care and testing issues and experience addressing the needs of highly marginalized populations in accessing medical care and support.
(2) Experience with the target population or relationships with community-based organizations or nongovernmental organizations, or both, that demonstrates expertise, history, and credibility working successfully in engaging the target population.
(3) Experience working with nontraditional collaborators who work within and beyond the field of HCV education and outreach, including homeless services, veterans' medical and service programs, substance use disorders treatment, syringe exchange programs, women's health, reproductive health, immigration, mental health, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment.
(4) Strong relationships with community-based HCV health care providers that have the trust of the targeted population.
(5) Strong relationships with the state and local health departments.
(6) Capacity to coordinate a communitywide planning phase involving multiple community collaborators.
(7) Experience implementing evidence-based programs or generating innovative strategies, or both, with at least preliminary evidence of program effectiveness.
(8) Administrative systems and accountability mechanisms for grant management.
(9) Capacity to participate in evaluation activities.
(10) Strong communication systems that are in place to participate in public relations activities.
During the demonstration pilot project described in Section
122425, each demonstration pilot project shall prepare and
disseminate information regarding best practices for, and the lessons
learned regarding, providing outreach and education to the most
vulnerable and underserved individuals living with hepatitis C viral
infection (HCV) or at a high risk for HCV infection, for use by
providers, the State Department of Public Health, including the
Office of AIDS and the Office of Viral Hepatitis Prevention, federal
departments and agencies, including the federal Department of Health
and Human Services, and other national HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis
groups.
