An Act To Clarify the Provision for Care of Infants after Birth

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1531, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 2019, c. 426, §1, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. PL 2019, c. 426, §2  is amended to read:

Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services to amend develop form. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend its newborn blood spot screening refusal form to include a section permitting develop an ophthalmic ointment and vitamin K injection refusal form that permits a parent to refuse the prophylactic ophthalmic ointment or vitamin K injection required under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1531 for the infant of that parent.

SUMMARY

This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing the administration of prophylactic ophthalmic ointment and vitamin K injections to infants:

1. It specifies that the incidence of inflamed or reddened eyes in an infant be reported to the infant's primary care provider rather than to an unspecified physician;

2. It removes language specifying that the ophthalmic ointment is prescribed and provided without cost by the Department of Health and Human Services; and

3. It requires the department to develop a form to be used by a parent wishing to refuse the prophylactic ophthalmic ointment or vitamin K injection that is separate from the newborn blood spot screening refusal form.