2005 Rhode Island Code - § 40.1-24-20 — Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing – Facilities for drug abusers.

    (a) Every physician or health care provider attending any person for any service offered at a facility for intravenous drug users, shall offer testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) unless deemed inappropriate by the physician. All testing pursuant to this section shall be performed in accordance with §§ 23-6-17 and 23-6-18, except where federal confidentiality laws may supercede. The identity of the individuals tested under this section shall be maintained only at the site where the sample is drawn, and shall not be released except as otherwise provided by statute.

   (b) Each person who is offered a test and counseling shall be provided with an "informed consent form" which he or she shall sign and date in acknowledgment of the offer.

   (c) The department of health shall be responsible for reasonable costs associated with performing and reporting the results of the HIV tests, including the costs of pretest and post test counseling. The reasonable costs shall be negotiated and specified by contract.

   (d) All persons tested under this section shall be provided pretest and post test counseling in accordance with regulations adopted by the department of health; provided, however, that the counseling shall be in accordance with acceptable medical standards.