§ 22 §8941 — Birth Defects Program

There is established, within the Bureau of Health, the Birth Defects Program, referred to in this chapter as the "program," to identify and investigate birth defects in children. The program shall identify and research birth defects in children and maintain a central registry of cases of birth defects.
1.
Duties.
The program shall collect, analyze and distribute information and undertake necessary research to identify the following with regard to birth defects: causes, risk factors and strategies for prevention and the provision of services.
2.
Data collection.
The program shall establish systems for data collection that are medically recognized and scientific, that identify prevalence and incidence rates by region and population group and that identify the morbidity and mortality rates resulting from birth defects.
3.
Submission of information.
Providers of health care licensed under this Title and Title 32 must make available to the program health care records and information relating to the occurrence of birth defects in the form and manner provided by the department.
4.
Contact with families.
The department may contact families to provide information about available services.
5.
Contracts.
The department may enter into contracts with nonprofit institutions and entities to perform its functions under this chapter.

Legislative History

PL 1999, c. 344, §1 (NEW).