AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of September 9, 1965 (P.L.497, No.251),
2entitled, as amended, "An act requiring physicians, hospitals
3and other institutions to administer or cause to be
4administered tests for genetic diseases upon infants in
5certain cases," providing for Newborn Child Screening Program
6Account, for newborn child screening fee and for mandated
7screening and follow-up.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of September 9, 1965 (P.L.497, No.251),
11known as the Newborn Child Testing Act, is amended by adding
12sections to read:

13Section 3.1. Newborn Child Screening Program Account.--(a)
14There is established a special restricted account within the
15State Treasury to be known as the Newborn Child Screening
16Program Account, which shall receive money from the fee
17established under section 3.2 and any other money from any
18source designated for deposit in the Newborn Child Screening
19Program Account.

1(b) The fees deposited in the Newborn Child Screening
2Program Account are hereby appropriated, upon approval of the
3Governor, to the Department of Health to be used for the
4screening of newborns, tracking screening outcomes, follow-up
5services and referrals for treatment for up to the first year of
6life as described in section 3<- and support for medical foods for
7females and males up to 18 years of age and for females over 18
8years of age who are considering pregnancy.

9(c) All earnings received from the investment or deposit of
10the moneys in the Newborn Child Screening Program Account shall
11be paid into the account for the purposes authorized by this
12section.

13(d) Any unexpended moneys and any interest earned on the
14money in the Newborn Child Screening Program Account shall not
15lapse to the General Fund, but shall remain in the account to be
16used by the department for purposes specified in this section.

17Section 3.2. Newborn Child Screening Fee.--(a) In order to
18safeguard newborn health and appropriately fund the screening of
19newborns, tracking of screening outcomes, follow-up services and
20referrals for treatment, the department shall impose a fee on
21birthing <-hospitals facilities for each newborn child screened.

22(b) The fee shall be deposited in the Newborn Child
23Screening Program Account established in section 3.1.

24(c) The amount of the fee shall be determined by the
25department and <-published annually in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
26shall not exceed an amount sufficient to cover the
27administrative, laboratory and follow-up costs associated with
28the performance of screening tests.

29(d) The fee shall be published annually in the Pennsylvania
30Bulletin.

1Section 3.3. Mandated Screening and Follow-up.--Conditions
2mandated for screenings and follow-up services shall include, at
3a minimum, newborn conditions recommended by the Newborn
4Screening and Follow-up Technical Advisory Board of the
5department, after review and consideration of the Recommended
6Uniform Screening Panel from the United States Department of
7Health and Human Services.

8Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.