Senate Bill 1258

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258

    By Senator Harris





    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to infant health care; amending

  3         ss. 383.14, 383.318, and 467.019, F.S.;

  4         providing requirements for screening of infants

  5         born in the state for controlled substances and

  6         human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection;

  7         providing duties of the Department of Health,

  8         birth centers, and midwives; requiring adoption

  9         of rules; deleting an exemption from infant

10         health screening requirements; providing an

11         effective date.

12

13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

14

15         Section 1.  Section 383.14, Florida Statutes, is

16  amended to read:

17         383.14  Screening for metabolic disorders, other

18  hereditary and congenital disorders, controlled substances,

19  HIV infection, and environmental risk factors.--

20         (1)  SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.--To help ensure access to

21  the maternal and child health care system, the Department of

22  Health shall promote the screening of all infants born in

23  Florida for phenylketonuria and other metabolic, hereditary,

24  and congenital disorders known to result in significant

25  impairment of health or intellect, as screening programs

26  accepted by current medical practice become available and

27  practical in the judgment of the department. The department

28  shall also promote the identification and screening of all

29  infants born in this state for controlled substances and human

30  immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The department shall

31  also promote the identification and screening of all infants

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1  born in this state and their families for environmental risk

  2  factors such as low income, poor education, maternal and

  3  family stress, emotional instability, substance abuse, and

  4  other high-risk conditions associated with increased risk of

  5  infant mortality and morbidity to provide early intervention,

  6  remediation, and prevention services, including, but not

  7  limited to, parent support and training programs, home

  8  visitation, and case management. Identification, perinatal

  9  screening, and intervention efforts shall begin prior to and

10  immediately following the birth of the child by the attending

11  health care provider.  Such efforts shall be conducted in

12  hospitals, perinatal centers, county health departments,

13  school health programs that provide prenatal care, and

14  birthing centers, and reported to the Office of Vital

15  Statistics.

16         (a)  Prenatal screening.--The department shall develop

17  a multilevel screening process that includes a risk assessment

18  instrument to identify women at risk for a preterm birth or

19  other high-risk condition.  The primary health care provider

20  shall complete the risk assessment instrument and report the

21  results to the Office of Vital Statistics so that the woman

22  may immediately be notified and referred to appropriate

23  health, education, and social services.

24         (b)  Postnatal screening.--A risk factor analysis using

25  the department's designated risk assessment instrument shall

26  also be conducted as part of the medical screening process

27  upon the birth of a child and submitted to the department's

28  Office of Vital Statistics for recording and other purposes

29  provided for in this chapter.  The department's screening

30  process for risk assessment shall include a scoring mechanism

31  and procedures that establish thresholds for notification,

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1  further assessment, referral, and eligibility for services by

  2  professionals or paraprofessionals consistent with the level

  3  of risk. Procedures for developing and using the screening

  4  instrument, notification, referral, and care coordination

  5  services, reporting requirements, management information, and

  6  maintenance of a computer-driven registry in the Office of

  7  Vital Statistics which ensures privacy safeguards must be

  8  consistent with the provisions and plans established under

  9  chapter 411, Pub. L. No. 99-457, and this chapter.  Procedures

10  established for reporting information and maintaining a

11  confidential registry must include a mechanism for a

12  centralized information depository at the state and county

13  levels.  The department shall coordinate with existing risk

14  assessment systems and information registries.  The department

15  must ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the

16  screening information registry is integrated with the

17  department's automated data systems, including the Florida

18  On-line Recipient Integrated Data Access (FLORIDA) system.

19  Tests and screenings must be performed at such times and in

20  such manner as is prescribed by the department after

21  consultation with the Genetics and Infant Screening Advisory

22  Council and the State Coordinating Council for Early Childhood

23  Services.

24         (2)  RULES.--

25         (a)  After consultation with the Genetics and Infant

26  Screening Advisory Council, the department shall adopt and

27  enforce rules requiring that every infant born in this state

28  shall:,

29         1.  Prior to becoming 2 weeks of age, be subjected to a

30  test for phenylketonuria and, at the appropriate age, be

31  tested for such other metabolic diseases and hereditary or

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1  congenital disorders as the department may deem necessary from

  2  time to time.

  3         2.  Be tested for controlled substances.

  4         3.  Be tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

  5  infection.

  6         (b)  After consultation with the State Coordinating

  7  Council for Early Childhood Services, the department shall

  8  also adopt and enforce rules requiring every infant born in

  9  this state to be screened for environmental risk factors that

10  place children and their families at risk for increased

11  morbidity, mortality, and other negative outcomes.

12         (c)  The department shall adopt such additional rules

13  as are found necessary for the administration of this section,

14  including rules relating to the methods used and time or times

15  for testing as accepted medical practice indicates, rules

16  relating to charging and collecting fees for screenings

17  authorized by this section, and rules requiring mandatory

18  reporting of the results of tests and screenings for these

19  conditions to the department.

20         (3)  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; POWERS AND DUTIES.--The

21  department shall administer and provide certain services to

22  implement the provisions of this section and shall:

23         (a)  Assure the availability and quality of the

24  necessary laboratory tests and materials.

25         (b)  Furnish all physicians, county health departments,

26  perinatal centers, birthing centers, and hospitals forms on

27  which environmental screening and the results of tests for

28  controlled substances, for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

29  infection, and for phenylketonuria and such other disorders

30  for which testing may be required from time to time shall be

31  reported to the department.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1         (c)  Promote education of the public about the

  2  prevention and management of metabolic, hereditary, and

  3  congenital disorders and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

  4  infection, and the dangers associated with environmental risk

  5  factors, including substance abuse.

  6         (d)  Maintain a confidential registry of cases,

  7  including information of importance for the purpose of

  8  followup services to prevent mental retardation, to correct or

  9  ameliorate physical handicaps, and for epidemiologic studies,

10  if indicated.  Such registry shall be exempt from the

11  provisions of s. 119.07(1).

12         (e)  Supply the necessary dietary treatment products

13  where practicable for diagnosed cases of phenylketonuria and

14  other metabolic diseases for as long as medically indicated

15  when the products are not otherwise available. Provide

16  nutrition education and supplemental foods to those families

17  eligible for the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women,

18  Infants, and Children as provided in s. 383.011.

19         (f)  Promote the availability of genetic studies and

20  counseling in order that the parents, siblings, and affected

21  infants may benefit from available knowledge of the condition.

22         (g)  Have the authority to charge and collect fees for

23  screenings authorized in this section, as follows:

24         1.  A fee of $20 will be charged for each live birth,

25  as recorded by the Office of Vital Statistics, occurring in a

26  hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395 or a birth

27  center licensed under s. 383.305, up to 3,000 live births per

28  licensed hospital per year or over 60 births per birth center

29  per year.  The department shall calculate the annual

30  assessment for each hospital and birth center, and this

31  assessment must be paid in equal amounts quarterly. Quarterly,

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1  the department shall generate and mail to each hospital and

  2  birth center a statement of the amount due.

  3         2.  As part of the department's legislative budget

  4  request prepared pursuant to chapter 216, the department shall

  5  submit a certification by the department's inspector general,

  6  or the director of auditing within the inspector general's

  7  office, of the annual costs of the uniform testing and

  8  reporting procedures of the infant screening program. In

  9  certifying the annual costs, the department's inspector

10  general or the director of auditing within the inspector

11  general's office shall calculate the direct costs of the

12  uniform testing and reporting procedures, including applicable

13  administrative costs. Administrative costs shall be limited to

14  those department costs which are reasonably and directly

15  associated with the administration of the uniform testing and

16  reporting procedures of the infant screening program.

17

18  All provisions of this subsection must be coordinated with the

19  provisions and plans established under this chapter, chapter

20  411, and Pub. L. No. 99-457.

21         (4)  OBJECTIONS OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN.--The provisions

22  of this section shall not apply when the parent or guardian of

23  the child objects thereto.  A written statement of such

24  objection shall be presented to the physician or other person

25  whose duty it is to administer and report tests and screenings

26  under this section.

27         (4)(5)  ADVISORY COUNCIL.--There is established a

28  Genetics and Infant Screening Advisory Council made up of 12

29  members appointed by the Secretary of Health.  The council

30  shall be composed of two consumer members, three practicing

31  pediatricians, at least one of whom must be a pediatric

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1  hematologist, one representative from each of the four medical

  2  schools in the state, the Secretary of Health or his or her

  3  designee, one representative from the Division of Children's

  4  Medical Services, and one representative from the

  5  Developmental Services Program Office of the Department of

  6  Children and Family Services. All appointments shall be for a

  7  term of 4 years.  The chairperson of the council shall be

  8  elected from the membership of the council and shall serve for

  9  a period of 2 years.  The council shall meet at least

10  semiannually or upon the call of the chairperson.  The council

11  may establish ad hoc or temporary technical advisory groups to

12  assist the council with specific topics which come before the

13  council.  Council members shall serve without pay.  Pursuant

14  to the provisions of s. 112.061, the council members are

15  entitled to be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses.

16  It is the purpose of the council to advise the department

17  about:

18         (a)  Conditions for which testing should be included

19  under the screening program and the genetics program;

20         (b)  Procedures for collection and transmission of

21  specimens and recording of results; and

22         (c)  Methods whereby screening programs and genetics

23  services for children now provided or proposed to be offered

24  in the state may be more effectively evaluated, coordinated,

25  and consolidated.

26         Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section

27  383.318, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

28         383.318  Postpartum care for birth center clients and

29  infants.--

30         (3)  Postpartum evaluation and followup care shall be

31  provided, which shall include:

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1258
    24-924-98                                          See HB 3145




  1         (b)  Infant Metabolic screening tests required by s.

  2  383.14.

  3         Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 467.019, Florida

  4  Statutes, is amended to read:

  5         467.019  Records and reports.--

  6         (2)  The midwife shall instruct the parents regarding

  7  the requirement for an infant screening blood tests test for

  8  metabolic diseases, controlled substances, and human

  9  immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, as required by s.

10  383.14 and rules promulgated pursuant thereto, and shall

11  notify the county health department in the county where the

12  birth occurs, within 48 hours following delivery, unless other

13  arrangements for the test have been made by the parents.

14         Section 4.  This act shall take effect October 1 of the

15  year in which enacted.

16

17            *****************************************

18                          HOUSE SUMMARY

19
      Requires screening of all infants born in the state for
20    controlled substances and human immunodeficiency virus
      (HIV) infection. Provides duty of the Department of
21    Health to promote screening and education and adopt and
      enforce rules. Conforms provisions relating to duties of
22    birth centers and midwives with respect to such
      screening.  Removes a provision that exempts infants from
23    health screening requirements when the parents or
      guardians object thereto.
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