1. 1. The department of health and senior services shall use the strategies, protocols, and guidelines adopted by the National Institutes of Health on hepatitis C for educating physicians and health professionals and training providers on the most recent scientific and medical information on hepatitis C detection, diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic decision making. The guidelines may include, but not be limited to the following:

   1. (1) Tracking and reporting of both acute and chronic cases of hepatitis C by public health officials;
   2. (2) A cost-efficient plan to screen the prison population subject to specific line item appropriation; and
   3. (3) After one year of screening, a report shall be issued to the general assembly regarding the results of the screening.
2. 2. The duties prescribed in this section shall be subject to appropriations by the general assembly.

(L. 1999 S.B. 8 & 173)