HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2530
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to infectious disease testing for good samaritans.
Brief Description: Requiring free infectious disease testing for good samaritans.
Sponsors: Representatives Robinson, Jinkins, Morrell, Freeman and Santos.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 2/3/14 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Riccelli, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Harris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Clibborn, DeBolt, Green, G. Hunt, Jinkins, Manweller, Moeller, Morrell, Ross, Tharinger and Van De Wege.
Staff: Alexa Silver (786-7190).
Background:
A Good Samaritan is a person who renders emergency care or transportation without expectation of compensation. A Good Samaritan is entitled to request and receive appropriate infectious disease testing free of charge from the local health department in the county of his or her residence if:
while rendering emergency care, he or she came into contact with bodily fluids; and
he or she does not have health insurance that covers the testing.
A local health department is not required to provide health care services beyond testing. The information obtained from the testing is subject to statutory confidentiality provisions.
By rule, to receive free testing there must have been an exchange of bodily fluids that significantly increases the odds of being exposed to a deadly infectious disease, and the Good Samaritan must have requested the testing within 30 days. The local health department determines the diseases for which it is appropriate to test the Good Samaritan.
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Summary of Bill:
A local health department must provide free infectious disease testing to a Good Samaritan regardless of whether he or she has health insurance covering the testing. In addition, the local health department must provide free testing of the source patient, with his or her consent, to guide post-exposure prophylaxis treatment of the Good Samaritan.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This bill came from a physician who responded to a roadside accident and who wanted to increase the availability of free infectious disease testing. It simply ensures that free testing is available to anyone who acts as a Good Samaritan and to the source patient if he or she consents.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Robinson, prime sponsor; and Sean Graham, Washington State Medical Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.