[PARTXXII.]  NEWBORN METABOLIC SCREENING

 

§321-291  Tests for phenylketonuria,hypothyroidism, and other metabolic diseases.  (a)  The department ofhealth may specify diseases to be screened for in newborn infants and methodsto be employed to best prevent mortality and morbidity within the population ofthe State.

(b)  The person in charge of each institutioncaring for newborn infants and the responsible physician attending the birth ofa newborn or the person assisting the birth of a child not attended by aphysician, shall ensure that every infant in the person's care be tested forphenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, and any other disease that may be specified bythe department of health; provided that this section shall not apply if theparents, guardians, or other persons having custody or control of the childobject thereto on the grounds that the tests conflict with their religioustenets and beliefs and written objection is made a part of the infant's medicalrecord.

(c)  The department of health shall adopt rulespursuant to chapter 91, necessary for the purposes of this section, including,but not limited to:

(1)  Administration of newborn screening tests;

(2)  Quality and cost control of screening tests;

(3)  Retention of records and related data;

(4)  Reporting of positive test results;

(5)  Guidelines for care, treatment, and follow up ofinfants with positive test results;

(6)  Informing parents about the purposes of thesetests; and

(7)  Maintaining the confidentiality of affectedfamilies.

(d)  There is created in the treasury of theState the newborn metabolic screening special fund.  All moneys for newbornmetabolic screening services collected under this chapter shall be deposited inthe newborn metabolic screening special fund to be used for the payment of itslawful operating expenditures, including but not limited to laboratory testing,follow-up testing, educational materials, continuing education, qualityassurance, equipment, and indirect costs.

(e)  The director shall submit an annual reportto the legislature twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session,identifying all fund balances, transfers, and expenditures made from thenewborn metabolic screening special fund, and the purposes for eachexpenditure. [L 1986, c 10, §1; am L 1996, c 259, §1]