The Director of Health Services shall do all of the following: (

a) Develop and implement a public education and outreach program to raise awareness of the hepatitis C virus aimed at high-risk groups, physician’s offices, health care workers, and health care facilities. The program shall do all of the following:

(1) Attempt to coordinate with national public education efforts related to the identification and notification of recipients of blood from hepatitis C virus-positive donors.

(2) Attempt to stimulate interest and coordinate with community-based organizations to sponsor community forums and undertake other appropriate community outreach activities.

(3) Employ public communication strategies utilizing a variety of media that may include, but is not limited to, print, radio, television, and the Internet. (

b) Include information on co-infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hemophilia with the hepatitis C virus in the professional training and all appropriate care and treatment programs under the jurisdiction of the department. (

c) Develop a program to work with the Department of Corrections to identify hepatitis C virus-positive inmates likely to be released within two years and provide counseling and treatment options to reduce the community risk. (

d) Urge local public health officials to make hepatitis C virus screening available for uninsured individuals upon request. (

e) Include hepatitis C counseling, education, and testing, as appropriate, into local state-funded programs including those addressing HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted disease, and all other appropriate programs approved by the director.