Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §836 is enacted to read:

§836.__Testing by Department of Corrections

The Department of Corrections shall perform testing for hepatitis-C on high-risk adult clients, as defined in Title 34-A, section 1001, subsection 1-A.__The client must give consent and submit to the testing and treatment voluntarily.__There must be pretest and posttest counseling for both positively as well as negatively tested clients.__The first year of testing must be offered to all high-risk clients and subsequently to all new high-risk admissions.__The testing program must include medical treatment for hepatitis-C, information on support groups, drug treatment services, immunization for hepatitis-A and hepatitis-B and case management services that connect clients with community resources upon discharge.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Corrections to perform testing for hepatitis-C on high-risk adult clients of the department who volunteer to participate in the testing. The bill requires that medical treatment for hepatitis-C, information on support groups, drug treatment services, immunization for hepatitis-A and hepatitis-B and case management services that connect clients with community resources upon discharge all be a part of the voluntary testing program.