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 verified or documented vaccination history is available, further testing for rubella immunity in subsequent pregnancies is not necessary. All positive test results for syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C must be reported to the local health department.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that individuals who are not authorized to take blood samples must ensure that a sample is taken and tested by a qualified health provider. The changes aim to improve maternal health outcomes by ensuring comprehensive screening for infectious diseases during pregnancy. 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)