Sec. 19a-594. Pregnant women and newborn testing public awareness programs and health care provider training. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-594. Pregnant women and newborn testing public awareness programs and health care provider training. (a) The Department of Public Health may develop and implement a comprehensive training program designed to reach all health care providers who are required by the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593 to provide counseling or testing for HIV of pregnant women or newborns. The training program may include instruction on but not be limited to: The requirements of the provisions of sections 19a-90 and 19a-555; the requirements of this chapter; the benefits of such HIV testing for pregnant women; the possible interventions to prevent HIV transmission from a pregnant woman and her fetus or newborn; the side effects of such interventions; appropriate protocols for the counseling, testing and treatment of adolescents and their newborns; the statutory confidentiality provisions that relate to adolescents; resources available for health care, case management, counseling and treatment for people with HIV and AIDS; and, the sanctions for violation of the provisions of sections 19a-90 and 19a-555 and of this chapter.

      (b) The Department of Public Health may develop educational materials for women subject to the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593 and distribute such materials to any health care provider subject to the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593. These materials shall be in plain language and shall be, whenever possible, in the first language of the recipient of the materials. The materials may include, but not be limited to: An explanation of the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593; a description of the provisions of this chapter; the appropriate confidentiality provisions of the statute that refer to minors; a list of health care and support services for people with HIV/AIDS; and a toll-free number to report any violations of the statutes by providers. Each health care provider subject to the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593 shall give each woman who they counsel or test for HIV or whose newborn they test for HIV a copy of such educational materials.

      (c) Any health care provider who performs an HIV test on a newborn under the provisions of sections 19a-90, 19a-555 and 19a-593 shall report the results of such test to the mother of such newborn before the mother leaves the hospital or within forty-eight hours of the birth of such newborn whichever is sooner. Such provider shall refer any women whose newborn tests positive for HIV to an HIV case manager and an appropriate health care provider. Such provider shall also give the woman a list of support services for people with HIV and AIDS.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 17.)