An Act To Increase the Availability of Lead Testing for Children

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1315, sub-§4-A,  as enacted by PL 1991, c. 810, §7, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1319-A, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 683, §4 and affected by §10, is further amended to read:

A blood sample taken from a child by a health care provider or laboratory to test for blood lead level must be sent to the State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory for analysis , except that a blood sample may be analyzed at a health care provider or health care facility or clinic that dispenses benefits of the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 that has been approved by the department to perform in-office blood lead analyses for purposes of improving blood lead screening and that has demonstrated the ability to electronically submit all blood lead testing results and associated information to the department. The department shall adopt rules regarding lead-related testing conducted by the State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory and rules regarding blood lead testing by health care providers, health care facilities and clinics that dispense benefits of the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Whenever possible, the laboratory shall bill 3rd-party payors for services provided under this chapter and shall deposit all fees received into the State Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory dedicated account. The laboratory Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory shall use the funds to:

summary

This bill allows a health care provider or health care facility or clinic that dispenses benefits of the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 approved by the Department of Health and Human Services to perform in-office blood lead analyses under the Lead Poisoning Control Act.