SPONSOR: Stinnett
This bill modifies provisions governing blood tests and maternal screening for pregnant women.
Currently, pregnant women are asked to take a blood test at the time of the first prenatal examination, or no later than 20 days after the first prenatal examination, to screen for syphilis and hepatitis B, as well as any other treatable diseases and metabolic disorders as are prescribed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.
This bill requires an additional blood sample to be taken, with the woman's consent, at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and expands the list of diseases for screening to include hepatitis C and HIV. The bill also repeals a provision outlining the procedure for a later sample of a woman's blood in any area of the state designated as a syphilis outbreak area, and provides that if a woman tests positive for syphilis, hepatitis B or C, or HIV, or a combination thereof, the physician or person providing care must administer treatment in accordance with the most recent accepted medical practice to treat such diseases.
The bill additionally repeals a reference to the Missouri Genetic Disease Advisory Committee, granting the Department the sole authority to make rules pertaining to such tests, provided that the tests are of the types approved or accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration. The bill also repeals a requirement that approved and standard tests for these diseases must be made in a Department- approved laboratory.
This bill is the same as HB 1979 (2024).
Statutes affected: