§ 23-24.6-7 - Screening by health care providers.
SECTION 23-24.6-7
§ 23-24.6-7 Screening by health careproviders. – (a) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing the means by whichand the intervals at which children under six (6) years of age shall bescreened for lead poisoning. The department is also authorized to requirescreening for lead poisoning in other high risk groups.
(b) Each physician registered or licensed by Rhode Island orany agency of Rhode Island shall screen children under six (6) years of age forlead poisoning at the intervals and using the methods specified in theregulations adopted pursuant to subsection (a). Each licensed, registered orapproved health care facility serving children under six (6) years of age,including but not limited to hospitals, clinics, and health maintenanceorganizations, shall take appropriate steps to ensure that their patientsreceive screening for lead poisoning at the intervals and using the methodsspecified in these regulations.
(c) All health care programs funded in whole or in part withstate money and having child health components shall include, require, and/orprovide for screening children under six (6) years of age for lead poisoning atthe intervals and using the methods specified in the regulations promulgatedunder this section.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if theparents of the child object to the child undergoing blood lead screening on thegrounds that the screening conflicts with their religious tenets and practices.
(e) All blood samples taken by physicians or other healthcare providers licensed in Rhode Island or by licensed, registered, or approvedhealth care facilities in Rhode Island from children under the age of six (6)years for the purpose of screening for blood lead level shall be sent to thestate laboratory in the department of health for laboratory analysis.
(f) The department shall, at least annually, analyze andsummarize all of the lead screening information provided by physicians, healthcare facilities, and laboratories and provide this information to all otherlocal and state agencies involved with case management and lead hazardreduction. An analysis and summary of the data shall also be made available, atleast annually, to the health care community, to the general assembly, and thegeneral public in a format that is easily understandable to non-technicalreaders.