AR HB1108

Requires physicians and healthcare providers to test pregnant women for Hepatitis C by taking a venous blood sample as early as reasonably possible in pregnancy or at delivery if no prenatal care was provided

Mandates providers submit samples to approved laboratories for standard Hepatitis C testing in addition to existing prenatal screening requirements under Arkansas Code § 20-16-507

Requires providers to inform pregnant women that Hepatitis C can be transmitted from mother to child and may be prevented through diagnosis and treatment, and to provide counseling based on state and federal standards

Allows providers to decline testing responsibility if the pregnant woman declines the test and the refusal is documented in medical records, or if testing was not performed and that fact is recorded

Protects confidentiality of all records, reports, and data collected under this section from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, subpoena, discovery, or civil proceedings, with exception for reports required by other laws or federal regulations