Section 122420.

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.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 754, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2001.)