093_SB0306eng SB306 Engrossed LRB093 08552 DRJ 08778 b 1 AN ACT in relation to public aid. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by 5 adding Section 5-5.23 as follows: 6 (305 ILCS 5/5-5.23 new) 7 Sec. 5-5.23. Prenatal and perinatal care. The Department 8 of Public Aid may provide reimbursement under this Article 9 for all prenatal and perinatal health care services that are 10 provided for the purpose of preventing low-birthweight 11 infants, reducing the need for neonatal intensive care 12 hospital services, and promoting perinatal health. These 13 services may include comprehensive risk assessments for 14 pregnant women, women with infants, and infants, lactation 15 counseling, nutrition counseling, childbirth support, 16 psychosocial counseling, treatment and prevention of 17 periodontal disease, and other support services that have 18 been proven to improve birth outcomes. The Department shall 19 maximize the use of preventive prenatal and perinatal health 20 care services consistent with federal statutes, rules, and 21 regulations. The Department shall develop a plan for prenatal 22 and perinatal preventive health care and shall present the 23 plan to the General Assembly by January 1, 2004. On or before 24 January 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter, the Department 25 shall report to the General Assembly concerning the 26 effectiveness of prenatal and perinatal health care services 27 reimbursed under this Section in preventing low-birthweight 28 infants and reducing the need for neonatal intensive care 29 hospital services. Each such report shall include an 30 evaluation of how the ratio of expenditures for treating 31 low-birthweight infants compared with the investment in SB306 Engrossed -2- LRB093 08552 DRJ 08778 b 1 promoting healthy births and infants in local community areas 2 throughout Illinois relates to healthy infant development in 3 those areas. 4 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 5 becoming law.