HB 964 -- Childhood Lead Testing Program

Co-Sponsors:  Carnahan, Copenhaver, Johnson (61), Berkowitz,
Boykins, Barry, Shoemyer, Relford, Hilgemann

This bill requires all managed care deliveries and entities
which offer individual and group health insurance policies and
indemnity-type contracts issued by a health services corporation
to offer coverage for testing pregnant women for lead poisoning
and for all testing for lead poisoning authorized by Sections
701.340 to 701.349, RSMo, pertaining to the abatement of lead
and the prevention of lead poisoning.  Coverage for this testing
is also required if the Department of Health develops rules as
authorized by the bill.  This provision is effective January 1,
2002.

Health care services contained in the bill are prohibited from
requiring any greater deductible or co-payment than any other
health care service provided by the policy, contract, or plan.
Specified insurance policies are exempted from the provisions of
the bill.

The bill also revises provisions pertaining to the abatement of
lead and the prevention of lead poisoning.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires fees for laboratory testing of blood specimens for
lead content completed by the Department of Health to be
deposited in the Childhood Lead Testing Fund;

(2)  Requires the Director of the Department of Health to report
cases of lead poisoning to local boards of health, public health
agencies, and other persons and organizations;

(3)  Requires the director to notify health care professionals
or health care organizations that they are required to submit a
monthly report of all blood tests performed which are negative
for lead poisoning.  The department is also required to develop
the form and manner in which the information will be reported;

(4)  Beginning January 1, 2002, requires the department to
implement a Childhood Lead Testing Program under which each
child less than 6 years of age will be tested for lead
poisoning.  Health care facilities serving children less than 6
years old, including hospitals and clinics licensed under
Chapter 197, are required to take appropriate measures to ensure
that their patients receive lead poisoning testing;

(5)  Contains an exemption which allows a parent or guardian to
object to lead testing;

(6)  Requires the department to identify geographic areas of the
state that are at high risk for lead poisoning.  Lead poisoning
testing and follow-up testing for children aged 6 months through
6 years who reside in a high risk area for more than 10 hours a
week is required;

(7)  Requires the department, in conjunction with the
departments of Social Services and Elementary and Secondary
Education, to develop a questionnaire in order to assess
children who may be at a high risk for lead poisoning;

(8)  Requires laboratories who provide test results for lead
poisoning to notify the department of any child who tests
positive for lead poisoning.  The department is required to
develop rules pertaining to follow-up testing;

(9)  Requires every child care facility as defined in Section
210.201 and every child care facility affiliated with a school
system, business organization, or non-profit organization to
request that a child's parent or guardian provide evidence of
lead poisoning testing;

(10)  Prohibits children from being denied access to education
or a child care facility for failure to comply with provisions
of the bill;

(11)  Creates the Childhood Lead Fund in the state treasury and
contains provisions concerning the deposit and use of the funds
for the administration of childhood lead programs; and

(12)  Requires the department to develop rules to implement the
provisions of the bill.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:04 pm