[PARTXXVI.  PRENATAL HEALTH CARE]

 

[§321-331]  Prenatal health care; authority. (a)  The department of health may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to ensurethat all pregnant women in this State are offered appropriate information,quality testing, diagnostic services, and follow-up services concerning neuraltube defects and other disorders amenable to prenatal diagnosis.  The purposeof prenatal screening and diagnosis is to obtain vital information for thepregnant woman and her family as well as for the providers of her health care. It can be used to provide appropriate care and to assist the woman and herfamily to achieve optimal health outcomes.  Nothing in this section shall beconstrued to mean that prenatal screening and testing are mandatory.

(b)  The department of health may:

(1)  Provide educational resources to all women in theState before and early in pregnancy about the availability of prenatal tests,including non-directive counseling and impartial information on the benefits,risks, and limitations of prenatal tests;

(2)  Make available prenatal screening and diagnosistests to all pregnant women in this State who choose to be so screened;

(3)  Specify the diseases which may be screened for;

(4)  Determine screening and diagnostic testmethodologies;

(5)  Establish laboratory quality control standardsfor performance of designated tests;

(6)  Provide technical assistance to laboratories,hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers;

(7)  Maintain a confidential registry and collectappropriate statistical data for the purposes of research and evaluation;

(8)  Collect fees for program services; and

(9)  Maintain confidentiality of records of women andtheir families participating in the program. [L 1988, c 23, §1]