Section 641.11.17. Partner notification services by the department.

         11.17(1) The department shall maintain a partner notification program for persons known to have tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases or infections. In administering the program, the department shall provide for the following:

            a.               A physician or other health care provider shall encourage a person who tests positive for a sexually transmitted disease or infection to refer for counseling and testing any party with whom the newly diagnosed person has had sexual relations or has shared drug injecting equipment.

            b.               The physician or other health care provider attending the person who tests positive for a sexually transmitted disease or infection may provide to the department any relevant information provided by the tested person regarding any party with whom the tested person has had sexual relations or has shared drug injecting equipment.

         11.17(2) When making contact with partners of a person with a sexually transmitted disease or infection, the department shall not disclose the identity of the person who provided the names of the partners and shall protect the confidentiality of the partners who are contacted.

         11.17(3) The department may delegate its partner notification duties under subrule 11.17(1) for persons who have tested positive for HIV infection to a local health authority unless the authority refuses or neglects to conduct the partner notification program in a manner deemed to be effective by the department.

         11.17(4) The department may delegate its partner notification duties under subrule 11.17(1) for persons who have tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV infection to a local health authority or a physician or other health care provider unless the authority or physician or other health care provider refuses or neglects to conduct the partner notification program in a manner deemed to be effective by the department.

         11.17(5) In addition to the provisions for partner notification provided under these rules and notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, a county medical examiner or deputy medical examiner performing official duties pursuant to Iowa Code sections 331.801 through 331.805 or the state medical examiner or deputy medical examiner performing official duties pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 691 who determines through an investigation that a deceased person was infected with HIV may notify directly, or request that the department notify, the immediate family of the deceased or any person known to have had a significant exposure from the deceased of the finding.

[ARC 1215C, IAB 12/11/13, effective 1/15/14]