| Chapter 360 |
| 2021 -- H 6365 Enacted 07/12/2021 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM |
Introduced By: Representatives Henries, Amore, Craven, and Morales |
| Date Introduced: May 26, 2021 |
| 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 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. Such The rules and regulations shall include, at a minimum, newborn screening tests for |
| all disorders and conditions for which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment |
| of the disorder or condition listed in the current version of the federal Recommended Uniform |
| Screening Panel (RUSP) issued by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human |
| Services, and shall include newborn screening tests for all new disorders or conditions for which |
| there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder or condition added to |
| the federal RUSP within two (2) years after the disorder or condition is added; provided, if the |
| director of health determines in writing that it is not practicable to include a new disorder or |
| condition within two (2) years, the time period may be extended for the shortest amount of time |
| necessary, as determined by the director. 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 that 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 § 27-38.2-2(4), providing |
| health insurance coverage in Rhode Island except for supplemental policies which that only |
| provide 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 healthcare facilities where |
| births occur in the absence of a third-party payor. Nothing in this section shall preclude the hospital |
| or health care healthcare 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 §§ 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14. All funds |
| received pursuant to §§ 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 shall be deposited in the account. Funding |
| dedicated exclusively to implement the provisions of §§ 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 and received by |
| the department of health from sources other than those identified in §§ 23-13-13 and § 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 on January 1, 2022. |
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| LC002898 |
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