093_SB0306eng

 
SB306 Engrossed                      LRB093 08552 DRJ 08778 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to public aid.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Illinois Public Aid Code  is  amended  by
 5    adding Section 5-5.23 as follows:

 6        (305 ILCS 5/5-5.23 new)
 7        Sec. 5-5.23.  Prenatal and perinatal care. The Department
 8    of  Public  Aid  may provide reimbursement under this Article
 9    for all prenatal and perinatal health care services that  are
10    provided   for  the  purpose  of  preventing  low-birthweight
11    infants,  reducing  the  need  for  neonatal  intensive  care
12    hospital services, and promoting  perinatal  health.    These
13    services  may  include  comprehensive  risk  assessments  for
14    pregnant  women,  women  with infants, and infants, lactation
15    counseling,   nutrition   counseling,   childbirth   support,
16    psychosocial  counseling,   treatment   and   prevention   of
17    periodontal  disease,  and  other  support services that have
18    been proven to improve birth outcomes. The  Department  shall
19    maximize  the use of preventive prenatal and perinatal health
20    care services consistent with federal  statutes,  rules,  and
21    regulations. The Department shall develop a plan for prenatal
22    and  perinatal  preventive  health care and shall present the
23    plan to the General Assembly by January 1, 2004. On or before
24    January 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter, the  Department
25    shall   report   to   the  General  Assembly  concerning  the
26    effectiveness of prenatal and perinatal health care  services
27    reimbursed  under  this Section in preventing low-birthweight
28    infants and reducing the need  for  neonatal  intensive  care
29    hospital   services.   Each  such  report  shall  include  an
30    evaluation of how the  ratio  of  expenditures  for  treating
31    low-birthweight  infants  compared  with  the  investment  in
 
SB306 Engrossed             -2-      LRB093 08552 DRJ 08778 b
 1    promoting healthy births and infants in local community areas
 2    throughout  Illinois relates to healthy infant development in
 3    those areas.

 4        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
 5    becoming law.