Chapter 247
2011 -- H 6108
Enacted 07/09/11
A N A C T
RELATING TO
HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM
Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, and Ajello
Date Introduced: May 04, 2011
It is enacted by the General
Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-13-14 of the General Laws in Chapter
23-13 entitled "Maternal
and Child Health Services for Children with Special
Health Care Needs" is hereby amended to
read as follows:
23-13-14.
Newborn screening program. -- (a) The physician attending a newborn child
shall cause that child to be subject to newborn screening
tests for metabolic, endocrine, and
hemoglobinopathy disorders, and other conditions including
assessment for developmental risk
for which there is a medical benefit to the early
detection and treatment of the disorder, and an
assessment for developmental risk. The department of health shall make rules and
regulations
pertaining to screenings, diagnostic, and treatment services as
accepted medical practice shall
indicate. The provisions of this section shall not apply if
the parents of the child object to the tests
on the grounds that those tests conflict with their
religious tenets and practices.
(b) In addition, the
department of health is authorized to establish by rule and regulation
a reasonable fee structure for the newborn screening
and disease control program, which includes
but is not limited to screening, diagnostic, and
treatment services. The program shall be a covered
benefit and be reimbursable by all health insurers, as
defined in section 27-38.2-2(1), providing
health insurance coverage in
coverage for specific diseases, hospital indemnity Medicare
supplements, or other supplemental
policies. The department of human services shall pay for the
program where the patient is eligible
for medical assistance under the provisions of chapter 8
of title 40. The charges for the program
shall be borne by the hospitals or other health-care
facilities where births occur in the absence of
a third-party payor. Nothing
in this section shall preclude the hospital or health care facility from
billing the patient directly.
(c) There is created
within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as
the "newborn screening account" to implement
the provisions of section 23-13-13 and section 23-
13-14. All funds received
pursuant to section 23-13-13 and section 23-13-14 shall be deposited in
the account. Funding dedicated exclusively to implement
the provisions of section 23-13-13 and
section 23-13-14 and received by the department of health
from sources other than those
identified in section 23-13-13 and section 23-13-14 may also be
deposited in the newborn
screening account. The general treasurer is authorized and
directed to draw his or her orders on
the account upon receipt of properly authenticated
vouchers from the department of health.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02554
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