What's happening
This bill requires mandatory Hepatitis C testing for all newborns in New York and establishes a program for testing, follow-up, and education.
Why it matters
Early detection of Hepatitis C in newborns can enable timely medical intervention. , which may prevent long-term complications and reduce the risk of virus transmission within families.
Testing all newborns ensures that cases are not missed due to lack of maternal risk factor screening. this is particularly important since many mothers with Hepatitis C may be unaware of their infection.
The law mandates not just testing but also follow-up, counseling, and education. , which means families will be supported through diagnosis, understanding results, and accessing care, potentially reducing stigma and improving public health outcomes.
Statewide data collection and tracking will provide better epidemiological information about Hepatitis C prevalence in infants and mothers. , informing future public health policy and resource allocation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Test Newborns for Hepatitis C
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3465
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring hepatitis C virus testing of newborns
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-l to read as follows:
§ 2500-l. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV); testing of newborns. 1. In order to improve the health outcomes of newborns, and to improve access to care and treatment for newborns infected with or exposed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and their mothers, the commissioner shall establish a comprehensive program for the testing of newborns for the presence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and/or the presence of antibodies to such virus.
2. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations governing the implementation of the program required pursuant to subdivision one of this section, including the administration of testing, counseling, tracking, disclosure of test results pursuant to section twenty-seven hundred eighty-two of this chapter, follow-up reviews, and educational activities relating to such testing.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06623-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring hepatitis C virus testing of newborns
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the public health law by adding a new section 2500-1 that creates a program for the testing of newborns for the presence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Justification
As more available treatments for Hepatitis C become available it is important to screen at the earliest age possible. Over 70 of those living with Hepatitis C are unaware that they are infected because HCV is often asymptomatic.
The new testing mandates will allow mothers and their children access to early detection of the Hepatitis C virus. By mandating testing of the child there is an added benefit of testing the mother. With over 300,000 New Yorkers living with Hepatitis C, early detection is essential.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: S.1816/A.1452 - Referred to Health 2013-2014: S.4871 - Referred to Health 2011-2012: A.9620 - Referred to Health
Fiscal implications for state
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.