SCS HB 1568 -- BLOOD TESTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN; OFFICE ON WOMEN'S
HEALTH

BLOOD TESTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Under current law, any medical professional who undertakes care
of a pregnant woman is required, if the woman consents, to take
a blood sample early in the pregnancy which will be tested for
syphilis and hepatitis B.  This bill requires syphilis tests to
also be made later in the pregnancy and at delivery in any area
of the state designated as a syphilis outbreak area by the
Department of Health.

The bill also replaces statutory requirements for the
administration of doses of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B
immune globulin to newborns with the requirement that the
administration be done in accordance with current
recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices.

OFFICE ON WOMEN'S HEALTH

The bill authorizes the Office on Women's Health within the
Department of Health.  The duties of the office include:

(1)  Assisting in assessing women's health needs in Missouri;

(2)  Providing policy analysis and recommendations to the
Director of the Department of Health on women's health issues
across the life cycle;

(3)  Assisting the director in identifying issues, establishing
priorities, and presenting recommendations on service delivery
issues for the department;

(4)  Serving as a central location for information, resources,
technical assistance, and consultation about women's health;

(5)  Promoting the coordination of women's health efforts
throughout Missouri; and

(6)  Increasing the visibility of the many factors affecting the
health and well-being of women in Missouri.

The bill allows the director to establish an advisory committee
which will consist of experts in women's health issues and will
reflect the geographic, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic
diversity of the state.  The advisory committee and the Chief of
the Office on Women's Health are required to jointly identify
pertinent health issues for consideration by the director.  The
advisory committee is also required to assist the Office on
Women's Health in analyzing issues concerning women's health.

HB 1568 -- BLOOD TEST FOR PREGNANT WOMEN (Riback Wilson, 25)

Under current law, any medical professional who undertakes care
of a pregnant woman is required, if the woman consents, to take
a blood sample early in the pregnancy to be tested for syphilis
and hepatitis B.  This bill requires such tests to also be made
later in the pregnancy in any area of the state designated as a
syphilis outbreak area by the Department of Health.

The bill also replaces statutory requirements for the
administration of doses of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns with
the requirement that the administration be done in accordance
with current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 1568 -- BLOOD TEST FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

CO-SPONSORS:  Riback Wilson (25), Holand

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Public Health by a vote of 13 to 0.

Under current law, any medical professional who undertakes care
of a pregnant woman is required, if the woman consents, to take
a blood sample early in the pregnancy to be tested for syphilis
and hepatitis B.  This bill requires such tests to also be made
later in the pregnancy in any area of the state designated as a
syphilis outbreak area by the Department of Health.

The bill also replaces statutory requirements for the
administration of doses of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns with
the requirement that the administration be done in accordance
with current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill would improve the
prenatal and postnatal care and treatment received by pregnant
mothers and newborns in designated syphilis outbreak areas.
Supporters also state that the treatment of newborns with the
hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin would follow
the current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Riback Wilson (25);
Department of Health; and Missouri State Medical Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

HB 1568 -- Blood Tests for Pregnant Women

Co-Sponsors:  Riback Wilson (25), Holand

Under current law, any medical professional who undertakes care
of a pregnant woman is required, if the woman consents, to take
a blood sample early in the pregnancy to be tested for syphilis
and hepatitis B.  This bill requires such tests to also be made
later in the pregnancy in any area of the state designated as a
syphilis outbreak area by the Department of Health.

The bill also replaces statutory requirements for the
administration of doses of hepatitis B vaccine to newborns with
the requirement that the administration be done in accordance
with current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices.