Existing law requires any medical facility, other than a hospital, and an emergency department or labor and delivery unit in a hospital that is evaluating or treating a pregnant woman to test the pregnant woman for syphilis using a standard serological test, unless the pregnant woman refuses the test or indicates that she has already had certain prenatal screenings and tests. Existing law requires such a facility to treat a patient who tests positive for syphilis or to refer the patient for such treatment, except where the patient refuses treatment. (NRS 442.010) Section 1 of this bill requires such a facility to test a pregnant woman who has not received certain prenatal screenings and tests for syphilis using a rapid point-of-contact test instead of a standard serological test unless the pregnant woman refuses the test. Section 1 also clarifies that such a facility must perform a rapid test for syphilis on a pregnant woman, unless the woman refuses the test, regardless of the reason the woman is seeking treatment at the facility. Additionally, certain public and private policies of health insurance, including Medicaid, would be required to cover this rapid test for syphilis performed under the conditions required by section 1. (NRS 287.010, 287.04335, 422.27173, 689A.0412, 689B.0315, 689C.1675, 698C.425, 695A.1856, 695B.1913, 695C.050, 695C.1737, 695G.1714) Sections 2 and 3 of this bill authorize the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to discipline a medical facility for a violation of section 1.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 442.010, 449.160, 449.163
BDR: 442.010, 449.160, 449.163