2021 -- S 0234 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC001548/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM | |
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Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Miller, Cano, Goldin, Valverde, Quezada, Bell, | |
Date Introduced: February 10, 2021 | |
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 23-13-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-13 entitled "Maternal |
2 | and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended to read |
3 | as follows: |
4 | 23-13-14. Newborn screening program. |
5 | (a) The physician attending a newborn child shall cause that child to be subject to newborn |
6 | screening tests for metabolic, endocrine, and hemoglobinopathy disorders, and other conditions for |
7 | which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder, and an |
8 | assessment for developmental risk. The department of health shall make rules and regulations |
9 | pertaining to screenings, diagnostic, and treatment services as accepted medical practice shall |
10 | indicate. Such rules and regulations shall include, at a minimum, newborn screening tests for all |
11 | disorders and conditions for which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment |
12 | of the disorder or condition listed in the current version of the federal Recommended Uniform |
13 | Screening Panel (RUSP) issued by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human |
14 | Services, and shall include newborn screening tests for all new disorders or conditions for which |
15 | there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder or condition added to |
16 | the federal RUSP within two (2) years after the disorder or condition is added; provided, if the |
17 | director of health determines in writing that it is not practicable to include a new disorder or |
18 | condition within two (2) years, the time period may be extended for the shortest amount of time |
19 | necessary, as determined by the director. The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents |
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1 | of the child object to the tests on the grounds that those tests conflict with their religious tenets and |
2 | practices. |
3 | (b) In addition, the department of health is authorized to establish by rule and regulation a |
4 | reasonable fee structure for the newborn screening and disease control program, which includes |
5 | but is not limited to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. The program shall be a covered |
6 | benefit and be reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined in § 27-38.2-2(4), providing health |
7 | insurance coverage in Rhode Island except for supplemental policies which only provide coverage |
8 | for specific diseases, hospital indemnity Medicare supplements, or other supplemental policies. |
9 | The department of human services shall pay for the program where the patient is eligible for |
10 | medical assistance under the provisions of chapter 8 of title 40. The charges for the program shall |
11 | be borne by the hospitals or other health-care facilities where births occur in the absence of a third- |
12 | party payor. Nothing in this section shall preclude the hospital or health care facility from billing |
13 | the patient directly. |
14 | (c) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the |
15 | "newborn screening account" to implement the provisions of § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14. All funds |
16 | received pursuant to § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 shall be deposited in the account. Funding |
17 | dedicated exclusively to implement the provisions of § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 and received by |
18 | the department of health from sources other than those identified in § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 may |
19 | also be deposited in the newborn screening account. The general treasurer is authorized and directed |
20 | to draw his or her orders on the account upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers from the |
21 | department of health. |
22 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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LC001548/SUB A | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM | |
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1 | This act would mandate the rules and regulations of the department of health pertaining to |
2 | newborn screening to include at a minimum, newborn screening tests for all disorders and |
3 | conditions for which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder |
4 | or condition listed in the current federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel and include new |
5 | disorders or conditions within two (2) years unless it is not practicable to include a new disorder. |
6 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2022. |
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