HB 1393-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2008 SESSION
01/04
HOUSE BILL 1393-FN
AN ACT requiring hepatitis C cases to be reported to the department of health and human services.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Clark, Hills 18
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill includes hepatitis C in the list of diseases to be reported to the department of health and human services.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
08-2247
01/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT requiring hepatitis C cases to be reported to the department of health and human services.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Clarification of Diseases; Report Forms. Amend RSA 141-C:8 to read as follows:
141-C:8 List of Diseases; Report Forms. The commissioner shall compile a list of reportable communicable diseases, including hepatitis C, necessary to protect the citizenry. The commissioner shall develop and provide a form for the reporting of communicable diseases under this section. The form shall include, at a minimum, the name, age, address, occupation, and place of occupation of the person. Reportable information shall not include psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health records or information.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2009.
LBAO
08-2247
11/28/07
HB 1393-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT requiring hepatitis C cases to be reported to the department of health and human services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill may increase state general fund expenditures by $31,312 in FY 2009, $65,357 in FY 2010, $68,291 in FY 2011, and $71,367 in FY 2012. This bill may increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2009 and each year thereafter. This bill would have no fiscal impact on state, county, and local revenue, or county expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill provides the Department with the authority to collect individual case reports of Hepatitis C virus infection among persons who reside in New Hampshire. Currently no such case reporting system exists specifically for viral Hepatitis C infection reporting. The Department does have an existing communicable disease surveillance system for over 60 communicable diseases, including specific forms and methodology to collect data from reporting entities (most often health care providers and laboratories). However, specific diseases may require particular forms for data collection based on risk factors and other attributes of a condition in order to accurately track the infection, and more importantly to capably formulate prevention strategies based upon the identified population at risk. The Department does conduct routine case investigations to meet the federal requirements for data collection as well as the public’s need for science-based information on the prevalence of a condition. In order to effectively meet that need, the Department assumes that the development of a new program specific to Hepatitis C will provide the most successful program performance. Based on data from the Vermont Department of Health, the Department estimates approximately 1,800 infections may be reported in New Hampshire. Although this bill does not establish positions or contain an appropriation, the Department assumes one full-time equivalent Program Specialist III position (Labor Grade 23) would be required to support the program capacity. The Department states this position would establish the surveillance system performance criteria for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting Hepatitis C infection causes for use in disease control interventions and program planning; systemize data from surveillance activities in computer software programs such as databases and graphic representations; provide clinical consultation to healthcare providers statewide related to disease definitions, treatment guidelines, reporting requirements, and other program policies and procedures; manage a confidential and secure surveillance database; and collaborate with federal, state, and local officials, healthcare providers, public and private laboratories to ensure complete, timely, and accurate reporting of Hepatitis C infections. Assuming an effective date of January 1, 2009, annual salary step increases, benefits at 48.3% of salary, and associated costs, the Department estimates the fiscal impact as follows:
FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012
Salary $18,808 $39,234 $40,970 $42,783
Benefits 9,084 18,950 19,788 20,664
Current Expenses 1,000 2,000 2,000 2,000
Rent 2,232 4,798 5,158 5,545
In-State Travel 188 375 375 375
Total Expenditures $31,312 $65,357 $68,291 $71,367
The Department states that local health departments located in Manchester, Nashua, and Derry will be expected to collect and investigate Hepatitis C virus cases along with the central public health office in Concord. The Department assumes the Program Specialist III will conduct overall management of the surveillance system centrally in Concord, but the extent of the local fiscal impact is indeterminable at this time.