§ 10-532 — Universal nurse home visiting services program.

(a) As used in this section, “universal nurse home visiting” means an evidence-based nurse home visiting model in which a registered nurse, licensed pursuant to chapter 378, with specialized training provides services in the home to families with newborns in accordance with the provisions of this section. (b) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Commissioners of Social Services, Public Health and Health Strategy, shall, within available appropriations, develop a state-wide program to offer universal nurse home visiting services to all families with newborns residing in the state to support parental health, healthy child development and strengthen families. (c) When developing the program, said commissioners shall (1) consult with insurers that offer health benefit plans in the state, hospitals, local public health authorities, existing early childhood home visiting programs, community-based organizations and social service providers; and (2) maximize the use of available federal funding. (d) The program shall provide universal nurse home visiting services that are (1) evidence-based, and (2) designed to improve outcomes in one or more of the following areas: (A) Child safety; (B) child health and development; (C) family economic self-sufficiency; (D) maternal and parental health; (E) positive parenting; (F) reducing child mistreatment; (G) reducing family violence; (H) parent-infant bonding; and (I) any other appropriate area established, in writing, by the Commissioners of Early Childhood, Social Services, Public Health and Health Strategy. (e) The universal nurse home visiting services provided pursuant to the program shall (1) be voluntary and carry no negative consequences for a family that declines to participate, (2) include an evidence-based assessment of the physical, social and emotional factors affecting a family receiving such services, (3) include at least one visit during a newborn's first three months of life or other time frame as deemed appropriate by said commissioners and that is consistent with an evidence-based model, (4) allow families to choose up to a certain number of additional visits consistent with such model, (5) include a follow-up visit no later than three months or other time frame established by such model after the last visit, and (6) provide information and referrals to address each family's identified needs. Such services may be offered in every community in the state and to all families with newborns based on the full extent of available provider capacity. (f) The Commissioner of Social Services may seek approval of an amendment to the state Medicaid plan or a waiver from federal law to provide coverage for universal nurse home visiting services provided pursuant to this section and in a time frame and manner to ensure that such coverage does not duplicate other applicable federal funding. (g) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Commissioners of Social Services, Public Health and Health Strategy, shall collect and analyze data generated by the program to assess the effectiveness of the program in meeting the goals described in subsection (d) of this section and collaborate with other state agencies to develop protocols for sharing such data, including the timely sharing of data with primary care providers that provide care to families with newborns receiving universal nurse home visiting services pursuant to the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-147, S. 16; P.A. 24-68, S. 54; 24-81, S. 178.) History: P.A. 23-147 effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 24-68 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change; P.A. 24-81 replaced references to executive director of the Office of Health Strategy with references to Commissioner of Health Strategy throughout and made conforming changes, effective May 30, 2024.