2016 -- H 7476

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Price, Shekarchi, Roberts, Chippendale, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-1-44 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department

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of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-1-44. Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccines. -- (a) The department

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of health shall include in the department's immunization program those vaccines for routine

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childhood immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization

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Practices (ACIP) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and for adult influenza immunization as

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recommended by the ACIP, to the extent permitted by available funds. The childhood

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immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and KIDSNET, a

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confidential, computerized child health information system that is used to manage statewide

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immunizations, as well as other public health preventive services, for all children in Rhode Island

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from birth through age 18.

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      (b) The director of the department of health shall appoint an advisory committee that will

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be convened after the ACIP makes a recommendation regarding adult immunization. The

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committee will review the ACIP recommendations for the state, assess the vaccine cost and

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feasibility, and advise the director of health and the office of the health insurance commissioner

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regarding insurers and providers acting on the ACIP adult immunization recommendation. All

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recommendations will be posted on the department of health website. The advisory committee

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membership shall include, but not be limited to, a primary care provider, pharmacist,

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representatives of the nursing home industry, the home health care industry and major insurers.

 

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     (c) Notwithstanding the exemption set forth in §23-1-27, the department of health shall

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conduct a hearing, in accordance with the procedures set forth in chapter 35 of title 42, prior to

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issuing a mandate requiring immunization from any disease, unless it has been determined that a

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voluntary mass immunization program is necessary to protect the health and welfare of the people

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pursuant to §23-8-2.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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     This act would require the director of the department of health to conduct a hearing prior

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to requiring immunization against any disease unless there exists a health emergency.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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