Ryan White Notification Protections Restored

October 22, 2009 – The U.S. Congress has approved legislation restoring notification requirements for emergency response personnel exposed to infectious diseases while on duty. The provision was included as part of S. 1793, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.

The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 408-9, and passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.

When the Ryan White law was reauthorized in 2006, the infectious disease notification provisions, in an apparent oversight, were dropped from the law along with several other provisions that had outlived their usefulness. Their restoration will allow emergency responders exposed to life-threatening illnesses, such as tuberculosis or hepatitis, to receive notification within 48 hours from the receiving medical facility.

“IAFF members put themselves at risk every day, providing pre-hospital patient care in chaotic, unsterile environments where they are routinely at risk of exposure to blood-borne and airborne pathogens,” says IAFF General president Harold Schaitberger. “Restoring these critical provisions will allow emergency responders to better protect themselves, their coworkers and their families.”

S. 1793 also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to update the list of diseases for which notification would be required. The IAFF will continue working closely with Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as this process advances to ensure its members are well protected.