HB 1271 Summary: Viral Hepatitis Testing Act of 2012

• Creates section 381.9815, Florida Statutes, establishing the "Viral Hepatitis Testing Act of 2012" requiring the Department of Health to develop surveillance, education, and testing programs for hepatitis B and C virus infections.

• Establishes statewide goals including determining incidence and prevalence of infections, increasing awareness among infected individuals to 50% by 2014 and 75% by 2016, and improving health professional training.

• Requires the Department of Health to identify high-risk populations including individuals born in counties with 2% or more hepatitis B prevalence, those born between 1945-1965 (hepatitis C), and those exposed to infected individuals.

• Prioritizes early diagnosis in high-risk populations and provides comprehensive services including counseling, medical treatment, ongoing liver monitoring, substance abuse treatment, and perinatal infection prevention for women of childbearing age.

• Mandates annual reporting to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and relevant committees by January 31 of each year addressing program effectiveness, CDC guideline compliance, stigma concerns, and new treatment developments; effective July 1, 2012.