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HB 5613

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 1 co-sponsor

Rhode Island requires physicians, midwives, PAs, and NPs providing prenatal care to obtain and submit syphilis blood tests at early and third-trimester visits to public or approved

06/13/2025 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 5613

Summary — HB 5613 (Sub A)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY — SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Status: Signed by Governor (06/13/2025)
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Toth

Purpose

To expand and clarify the duty to perform syphilis blood testing during pregnancy by explicitly requiring midwives, physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs) — in addition to physicians — to obtain and submit blood specimens from pregnant patients for syphilis testing at specified times in prenatal care.

Key provisions

  • Amends R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-11-8 (Sexually Transmitted Diseases — Blood test of pregnant women).
  • Requires every physician, midwife, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner providing prenatal care to:
    • Obtain a blood specimen within 30 days after the first professional prenatal visit; and
    • Obtain a blood specimen again during the third trimester.
  • Specifies that specimens are to be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Health laboratory or a department-approved laboratory for a Wassermann or other standard laboratory blood test for syphilis.
  • Provides that violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine of not less than $10 and not more than $100 per offense.
  • Effective date: upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Pregnant persons receiving prenatal care in Rhode Island (testing required at early prenatal visit and in third trimester).
  • Prenatal care providers: physicians (existing), and newly specified midwives, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners (newly clarified/explicitly required).
  • Public health and commercial laboratories that perform syphilis testing and are approved by the Department of Health.

Expected impact and intent

  • Intended to improve detection and treatment of maternal syphilis and reduce the risk of congenital syphilis by ensuring standardized testing timing across a broader set of prenatal providers.
  • Administrative impact on providers is limited to collection and submission of blood specimens at the two specified times; laboratories will process submitted tests per existing procedures.

Legislative timeline / status

  • Introduced: (bill text lists Feb. 26, 2025; filed March 14, 2025)
  • Passed House and Senate (Sub A adopted); transmitted to Governor 06/10/2025
  • Signed by Governor: 06/13/2025 — law effective upon passage.

Notes: The statutory test referenced (Wassermann) is named alongside “other standard laboratory blood test for syphilis,” allowing use of contemporary validated serologic assays.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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