§ 23-13-14. Newborn screening program. (a) The physician attending a newborn child shall cause that child to be subject to newborn screening tests for metabolic, endocrine, and hemoglobinopathy disorders, and other conditions for which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder, and an assessment for developmental risk. The department of health shall make rules and regulations pertaining to screenings, diagnostic, and treatment services as accepted medical practice shall indicate. The provisions of this section shall not apply if the parents of the child object to the tests on the grounds that those tests conflict with their religious tenets and practices.

(b) In addition, the department of health is authorized to establish by rule and regulation a reasonable fee structure for the newborn screening and disease control program, which includes but is not limited to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. The program shall be a covered benefit and be reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined in § 27-38.2-2(4), providing health insurance coverage in Rhode Island except for supplemental policies which only provide coverage for specific diseases, hospital indemnity Medicare supplements, or other supplemental policies. The department of human services shall pay for the program where the patient is eligible for medical assistance under the provisions of chapter 8 of title 40. The charges for the program shall be borne by the hospitals or other health-care facilities where births occur in the absence of a third-party payor. Nothing in this section shall preclude the hospital or health care facility from billing the patient directly.

(c) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the "newborn screening account" to implement the provisions of § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14. All funds received pursuant to § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 shall be deposited in the account. Funding dedicated exclusively to implement the provisions of § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 and received by the department of health from sources other than those identified in § 23-13-13 and § 23-13-14 may also be deposited in the newborn screening account. The general treasurer is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders on the account upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers from the department of health.

History of Section. (P.L. 1987, ch. 276, § 2; P.L. 1988, ch. 285, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 110, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 61; P.L. 2001, ch. 63, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 213, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 6, § 11; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 28, § 4; P.L. 2011, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 247, § 1.)