§ 23-24.6-7. Screening by health care providers.
(a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by which and the
intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall be screened for lead
poisoning. The department is also authorized to require screening for lead poisoning
in other high risk groups.
(b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island or any agency of Rhode Island
shall screen children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals
and using the methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection
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§ 23-24.6-7. Screening by health care providers.
(a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by which and the
intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall be screened for lead
poisoning. The department is also authorized to require screening for lead poisoning
in other high risk groups.
(b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island or any agency of Rhode Island
shall screen children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals
and using the methods specified in the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection
(a). Each licensed, registered or approved health care facility serving children under
six (6) years of age, including but not limited to hospitals, clinics, and health
maintenance organizations, shall take appropriate steps to ensure that their patients
receive screening for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified
in these regulations.
(c) All health care programs funded in whole or in part with state money and having child
health components shall include, require, and/or provide for screening children under
six (6) years of age for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified
in the regulations promulgated under this section.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of the child object
to the child undergoing blood lead screening on the grounds that the screening conflicts
with their religious tenets and practices.
(e) All blood samples taken by physicians or other health care providers licensed in Rhode
Island or by licensed, registered, or approved health care facilities in Rhode Island
from children under the age of six (6) years for the purpose of screening for blood
lead level shall be sent to the state laboratory in the department of health for laboratory
analysis.
(f) The department shall, at least annually, analyze and summarize all of the lead screening
information provided by physicians, health care facilities, and laboratories and provide
this information to all other local and state agencies involved with case management
and lead hazard reduction. An analysis and summary of the data shall also be made
available, at least annually, to the health care community, to the general assembly,
and the general public in a format that is easily understandable to non-technical
readers.