Ryan White Reinstated

By Mike McEvoy
EMS Technical Editor

Two years past the Congressionally ordered deadline, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on November 4, 2011 announced reinstatement of the notification requirements for emergency responders exposed to infectious diseases. Known as the Ryan White Law, Congress failed to reinstate the notification provisions until October 2009, at which time they directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to compile a list of reportable diseases necessary for the Law be put back into effect. HHS passed the buck to the CDC in July 2010 and public comment was solicited to revise the list of reportable diseases. The final rules take effect 30 days from their November 2, 2011 publication in the Federal Register. In addition to a list of diseases, the guidelines contain helpful resources to assist Designated Infection Control Officers and for health care facilities in determining whether an exposure has occurred. Download the rules and comments with responses HERE.

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