HB579 Summary

• Establishes the Umbilical Cord Blood Storage Information Act to educate pregnant women about umbilical cord blood donation, banking, and medical uses of stem cells.

• Requires health care providers to advise pregnant women during the last trimester about options for banking umbilical cord blood in private facilities for family use or donating to public facilities for non-family medical use.

• Directs the Department of Public Health to prepare and distribute written information by January 1, 2012, covering collection processes, medical risks, current and potential future medical benefits, costs, ownership options, and available banks in Alabama and contiguous states.

• Permits health care facilities and providers to assist with umbilical cord blood collection when requested, unless medically inadvisable, or if banking or donating conflicts with the facility or provider's bona fide religious beliefs.

• Specifies that compliance with the act does not create a medical standard of care and failure to comply shall not constitute a breach of medical care standards.