HB 2081 Summary

• Department of Health must prepare written educational information about premature infants (born before 37 weeks' gestational age) by January 1, 2012, covering health issues, proper care, vaccines, preventive measures, and family support resources.

• Educational materials must be written in multiple languages and updated every three years, then distributed to hospitals, health care facilities, and providers for distribution to parents of premature infants.

• Hospitals providing newborn care must provide parents with approved written educational materials about premature infant care at discharge, updated at least every three years and in multiple languages.

• Department of Health must develop a plan to standardize hospital discharge and follow-up care procedures for premature infants and request hospitals to report rehospitalization data for infants in their first six months of life.

• Department of Health must submit a report to the legislature before the 2011 regular session with the improvement plan, rehospitalization data, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.