BILL ANALYSIS
By: Deuell
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children. While infection with this organism generally manifests in older children and adults as a mild upper respiratory tract infection, it can cause severe and even fatal disease in immunocompromised individuals, those with underlying cardiopulmonary disorders, preterm infants, and other vulnerable groups. RSV results in the hospitalization of more than 100,000 infants and children each year at an estimated cost exceeding $500 million. Scientific progress with regard to this infection has resulted in the availability of improved recognition, prevention, and treatment strategies for this infection and improved outcomes in vulnerable populations. This bill would require active education efforts on the part of the Department of State Health Services targeted to parents and providers, to share current information on prevention and treatment and methods of prophylaxis of disease in high risk individuals.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill requires that, in the course of providing information on immunizations to parents and providers, the Department of State Health Services will also provide information on RSV including the prevention of infection with this virus, prophylaxis for high risk children, and immunizations for this virus when an immunization is available.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.