House Bill 111 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-5-602, to enhance maternal health screening protocols. The bill mandates that every physician or authorized individual attending a pregnant woman must take a blood sample during the first examination or within ten days thereafter. If the first visit occurs at delivery or post-delivery, the required serological tests must be conducted at that time. The blood sample will be tested for syphilis infection, rubella immunity, hepatitis B surface antigen, and hepatitis C antibody, with additional testing for syphilis required between the twenty-eighth and thirty-second week of gestation and at delivery. The bill also specifies that once a positive rubella immunity result is confirmed or a vaccination history is documented, further testing for rubella in subsequent pregnancies is unnecessary. All positive test results for syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C must be reported to local health departments.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that individuals who are not authorized to take blood samples must ensure that a sample is taken by a qualified health provider as outlined in the amended subsection. The changes aim to improve the health screening process for pregnant women and ensure timely reporting of communicable diseases. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 68-5-602(a), 68-5-602, 68-5-602(b)