Z-0135.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5141

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Senators Thibaudeau, Deccio, Prentice and Winsley; by request of Department of Health

Read first time 01/14/1999.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long Term Care.

Allowing the department of health to charge a fee for newborn screening services.

    AN ACT Relating to newborn screening fees; and amending RCW 70.83.040.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 70.83.040 and 1991 c 3 s 350 are each amended to read as follows:

    When notified of positive screening tests, the state department of health shall offer the use of its services and facilities, designed to prevent mental retardation or physical defects in such children, to the attending physician, or the parents of the newborn child if no attending physician can be identified.

    The services and facilities of the department, and other state and local agencies cooperating with the department in carrying out programs of detection and prevention of mental retardation and physical defects shall be made available to the family and physician to the extent required in order to carry out the intent of this chapter and within the availability of funds.  The department has the authority to collect a reasonable fee, from the parents or other responsible party of each infant screened, for supplying services under this section.  The fee may be collected through the facility where the screening specimen is obtained.

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