PROVISION OF SPINA BIFIDA

INFORMATION TO PARENTS

House Bill 5098 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Hank Vaupel

Committee:  Health Policy

Complete to 3-14-16

SUMMARY:

House Bill 5098 would add a section to the Public Health Code to ensure that expectant or new parents of children with spina bifida are provided with certain information about that condition.  The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Specifically, if a child receives a prenatal or postnatal test or diagnosis of spina bifida, the health facility or provider must give the child's parents the following information, provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS):

·         Up to date, evidence-based written information about spina bifida that has been reviewed by medical experts and spina bifida organizations, including information on physical developmental, educational, and psychological outcomes, life expectancy, clinical course, intellectual and functional development, and treatment options.

·         Contact information regarding support programs and services that may be available to expectant and new parents of children with spina bifida, including hotlines specific to spina bifida, resource centers or clearinghouses, and national and local spina bifida organizations.

DHHS must make available the above information to any person who renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling to parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of spina bifida, and to any person who receives a positive test result from a test for spina bifida.

The following organizations and individuals must provide the above information to the parents: a health care facility or agency licensed under Article 17 of the Public Health Code, or a physician, health care provider, nurse midwife, or genetic counselor that renders prenatal care, postnatal care, or genetic counseling. 

Spina bifida refers to a congenital malformation of the bone in the vertebral column that exposes the spinal cord, which is caused by incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube.

            Proposed MCL 333.5822

FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill will have modest cost implications for the Department of Health and Human Services to satisfy the requirements.  Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jennifer McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Susan Frey

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.