SF 393 (LSB 1177SV (3) 85)

SENATE FILE 393

BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1001)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to prenatal care including required critical congenital heart disease screening for newborns as part of the state’s newborn screening panel and the convening of a task force on prenatal care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  136A.5A  Newborn critical congenital heart disease screening.
   1.  Each newborn born in this state shall receive a critical congenital heart disease screening by pulse oximetry or other means as determined by rule, in conjunction with the metabolic screening required pursuant to section 136A.5.
   2.  An attending health care provider shall ensure that every newborn under the provider’s care receives the critical congenital heart disease screening.
   3.  This section does not apply if a parent objects to the screening. If a parent objects to the screening of a newborn, the attending health care provider shall document the refusal in the newborn’s medical record and shall obtain a written refusal from the parent and report the refusal to the department as provided by rule of the department.
   4.  The results of each newborn’s critical congenital heart disease screening shall be reported in a manner consistent with the reporting of the results of metabolic screenings pursuant to section 136A.5.
   5.  This section shall be administered in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 136A.8.
    Sec. 2.  NEWBORN CRITICAL CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE SCREENING.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary relating to the newborn screening policy pursuant to 641 IAC 4.3(1), critical congenital heart disease screening shall be included in the state’s newborn screening panel as included in the recommended uniform screening panel as approved by the United States secretary of health and human services. The center for congenital and inherited disorders advisory committee shall make recommendations regarding implementation of the screening and the center for congenital and inherited disorders shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the screening.
    Sec. 3.  TASK FORCE ON PRENATAL CARE.  The department of public health shall convene a task force to review opportunities to improve prenatal care in the state. The task force shall review overall guidelines and best practices to maximize the possibility of assessing the risk factors for and preventing premature births, stillbirth, and other delivery complications, and shall specifically review guidelines and education relating to prenatal ultrasounds and fetal movement monitoring. The task force shall include but is not limited to inclusion of representatives of perinatologists, neonatologists, obstetricians/gynecologists, sonographers, hospitals, the center for congenital and inherited disorders, and others with interest or expertise in prenatal care. The task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2013.
EXPLANATION
   The bill relates to prenatal care including newborn screenings. The bill requires each newborn born in the state to receive a critical congenital heart disease screening by pulse oximetry or other means as determined by rule, in conjunction with the metabolic screening already required. The bill directs that an attending health care provider shall ensure that every newborn under the provider’s care receives the critical congenital heart disease screening, and provides that that requirement does not apply if a parent objects to the screening. If a parent objects, the health care provider is required to document the refusal in the newborn’s medical record, obtain a written refusal from the parent, and report the refusal to the department of public health (DPH). The results of each newborn’s screening are required to be reported in a manner consistent with the reporting of the results of metabolic screenings. The provisions are to be administered in accordance with rules adopted by the center for congenital and inherited disorders, with assistance provided by DPH. 
   The bill directs that the critical congenital heart disease screening shall be included in the state’s newborn screening panel. The bill requires the center for congenital and inherited disorders advisory committee to make recommendations regarding implementation of the screening and the center for congenital and inherited disorders to adopt rules as necessary to implement the screening.
   The bill directs DPH to convene a task force to review opportunities to improve prenatal care in the state. The task force is to review overall guidelines and best practices to maximize the possibility of assessing the risk factors for and preventing premature births, stillbirth, and other delivery complications, and to specifically review guidelines and education relating to prenatal ultrasounds and fetal movement monitoring. The bill specifies the membership of the task force and directs the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly by December 15, 2013.