A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the hospital licensure act to require hospitals to offer inpatients sixty‑five years of age or older immunization against the influenza virus and appropriating funds for the department of health and human services, division of health service regulation, to develop a campaign to make hospitals aware of this new requirement.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 5 of Chapter 131E of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 131E‑79.10.  Offering influenza vaccine to inpatients aged 65 and older.
Annually from October 1 through March 1, and in accordance with the latest recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each hospital licensed under this Article shall, prior to discharging a patient 65 years of age or older who has been admitted for inpatient care, offer the patient immunization against the influenza virus, unless medically contraindicated and contingent upon availability of the influenza vaccine."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2015‑2016 fiscal year to be used for the development of a campaign to ensure that all hospitals subject to the requirements of G.S. 131E‑79.10, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, are aware of these requirements and understand what constitutes compliance with these requirements.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.