Public Act 93-0536 SB306 Enrolled LRB093 08552 DRJ 08778 b AN ACT in relation to public aid. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 5-5.23 as follows: (305 ILCS 5/5-5.23 new) Sec. 5-5.23. Prenatal and perinatal care. The Department of Public Aid may provide reimbursement under this Article for all prenatal and perinatal health care services that are provided for the purpose of preventing low-birthweight infants, reducing the need for neonatal intensive care hospital services, and promoting perinatal health. These services may include comprehensive risk assessments for pregnant women, women with infants, and infants, lactation counseling, nutrition counseling, childbirth support, psychosocial counseling, treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, and other support services that have been proven to improve birth outcomes. The Department shall maximize the use of preventive prenatal and perinatal health care services consistent with federal statutes, rules, and regulations. The Department shall develop a plan for prenatal and perinatal preventive health care and shall present the plan to the General Assembly by January 1, 2004. On or before January 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter, the Department shall report to the General Assembly concerning the effectiveness of prenatal and perinatal health care services reimbursed under this Section in preventing low-birthweight infants and reducing the need for neonatal intensive care hospital services. Each such report shall include an evaluation of how the ratio of expenditures for treating low-birthweight infants compared with the investment in promoting healthy births and infants in local community areas throughout Illinois relates to healthy infant development in those areas. Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.