Increase Syphilis Testing During Pregnancy
expands repeals the existing statutory requirement to test a person who is pregnant for syphilis at the person's first professional visit with a health-care provider or during the first trimester of pregnancy. to also require testing for syphilis early in the third trimester of pregnancy and at delivery. The person who is pregnant may decline any testing. The bill requires the state board of health (board) to promulgate rules concerning prenatal testing standards for syphilis, including the frequency of testing. At least once every 3 years, the department of public health an environment (department) will review the board's rules for alignment with national prenatal testing recommendations for sexually transmitted infections and the department's infection control duties.
For statistical purposes, the department will make de-identified case rate data for syphilis available to county and district public health agencies, which data must remain confidential.
The bill restructures language concerning HIV testing requirements in the same section of law due to the removal of syphilis testing requirements that will now be required in board rules.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)