House File 2237 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY KAUFMANN
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act requiring hospitals to furnish newborn birth information
2 to the Iowa department of public health.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5559YH 81
5 rn/sh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 135B.7, Code 2005, is amended by adding
1 2 the following new unnumbered paragraph:
1 3 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH. The department shall adopt rules
1 4 requiring hospitals to submit information to the department
1 5 regarding newborn births at each hospital, to assist with the
1 6 monitoring and administration of programs including, but not
1 7 limited to, the universal newborn and infant hearing screening
1 8 program pursuant to section 135.131, the statewide obstetrical
1 9 and newborn indigent patient care program pursuant to section
1 10 135.152, and the newborn metabolic screening program pursuant
1 11 to section 136A.5. The information submitted shall also
1 12 include an assessment of the medical condition of a newborn
1 13 child, and any circumstances observed prior to, during, or
1 14 after the birth suggesting a need for continued medical
1 15 intervention or observation. A hospital submitting
1 16 information pursuant to this section shall assign an
1 17 identification number to each newborn, so that the identity of
1 18 the newborn shall remain confidential. Release of information
1 19 pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the federal
1 20 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996,
1 21 Pub. L. No. 104=191.
1 22 EXPLANATION
1 23 This bill provides that the Iowa department of public
1 24 health shall adopt rules requiring hospitals to submit
1 25 information to the department regarding newborn births. The
1 26 information submitted shall assist the department with the
1 27 monitoring and administration of a noninclusive list of
1 28 programs relating to newborns specified in the bill. The bill
1 29 additionally provides that a hospital submitting information
1 30 pursuant to this section shall assign an identification number
1 31 to each newborn, so that the identity of the newborn shall
1 32 remain confidential, and that the release of information shall
1 33 be consistent with the federal Health Insurance Portability
1 34 and Accountability Act of 1996.
1 35 LSB 5559YH 81
2 1 rn:nh/sh/8