S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6181
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 16, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RUSSELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to premature and high
risk infant information and quality improvement
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2816-b to read as follows:
S 2816-B. PREMATURE AND HIGH RISK INFANT INFORMATION AND QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT. 1. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION, THE
FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "PREMATURE INFANT" SHALL MEAN ANY INFANT BORN THIRTY-SEVEN WEEKS
GESTATIONAL OR LESS.
(B) "LOW BIRTH WEIGHT" SHALL MEAN ANY INFANT WEIGHING TWENTY-FIVE
HUNDRED GRAMS OR LESS.
(C) "HIGH RISK INFANT" SHALL MEAN ANY INFANT BORN WITH A HIGH RISK
PROBLEM OR PROBLEMS, AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
2. WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OF ANY PREMATURE INFANT, INFANT
WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT OR HIGH RISK INFANT, EACH GENERAL HOSPITAL OR, IN
THE CASE OF A BIRTH OUTSIDE A GENERAL HOSPITAL, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR DELIVERY SHALL FILE WRITTEN INFORMATION ON SUCH BIRTH IN A FORMAT
DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
3. WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER THE BIRTH OF ANY PREMATURE
INFANT, INFANT WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT OR HIGH RISK INFANT, EACH GENERAL
HOSPITAL SHALL FILE WRITTEN INFORMATION IN A FORMAT DETERMINED BY THE
DEPARTMENT ON THE ADMISSION OF SUCH INFANT TO THE GENERAL HOSPITAL
INCLUDING THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF SUCH ADMISSION TO THE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT COMMENCING ON JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
SENATE AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE STATUS OF PREMA-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09857-01-5
A. 6181 2
TURE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND HIGH RISK INFANTS. THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(A) INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENCE AND CAUSE OF RE-ADMISSIONS OF
INFANTS BORN PREMATURE, WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT OR HIGH RISK WITHIN THEIR
FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE; AND
(B) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PREMATURE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT OR
HIGH RISK INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES AND ENSURING CONTINUED HEALTH QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS TO
IMPROVE MONITORING OF PREMATURE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND HIGH RISK INFANTS
AFTER DISCHARGE FROM A GENERAL HOSPITAL AFTER BIRTH.
5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES FOR HOSPITAL
DISCHARGE AND FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR PREMATURE, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND HIGH
RISK INFANTS AND SHALL ENSURE THAT STANDARDIZED AND COORDINATED PROC-
ESSES ARE FOLLOWED AS SUCH INFANTS LEAVE THE GENERAL HOSPITAL AND TRAN-
SITION TO FOLLOW-UP CARE BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND/OR HOME CARE
SERVICES AGENCY. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL UTILIZE NATIONAL EVIDENCE-BASED
GUIDELINES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FROM THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID SERVICES' NEONATAL OUTCOMES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OR THE
INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT'S NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR CHIL-
DREN'S HEALTHCARE QUALITY AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL REPORT AS REQUIRED IN
SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION TO ESTABLISH GENERAL HOSPITAL DISCHARGE
AND FOLLOW-UP CARE PROCEDURES.
6. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE AND ENFORCE SUCH RULES AND REGU-
LATIONS AS HE OR SHE DEEMS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided that effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of the provisions of this act on its effective
date is authorized to be made on or before such effective date.