BILL REQ. #:  H-3933.1 

Read first time 01/22/10.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to premature infants; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   By December 1, 2010, the department of health shall:
     (1) Examine and improve hospital discharge and follow-up care procedures for premature infants born earlier than thirty-seven weeks gestational age to promote standardized and coordinated processes as premature infants leave the hospital from either a level 1 well baby nursery, level 2 step down or transitional nursery, or level 3 neonatal intensive care unit and transition to follow-up care by a health care provider in the community;
     (2) Use guidance from the centers for medicare and medicaid services' neonatal outcomes improvement project to implement programs to improve newborn outcomes, reduce newborn health costs, and establish ongoing quality improvement for newborns; and
     (3) Report data regarding the incidence and cause of rehospitalization in the first six months of life for infants born premature at earlier than thirty-seven weeks gestational age to the appropriate committees of the senate and house of representatives.