MO HB197

Director of Department of Health and Senior Services must post publicly available resources on umbilical cord blood developed by the Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation on the department's website.

Resources must include information on cord blood potential value and uses, differences between autologous and allogeneic stem cell treatments, and distinctions between public and private cord blood banking.

Resources must explain mothers' options for cord blood stem cells after delivery, including donation to public banks, private family banking, free family/sibling donor programs for existing medical needs, or discarding.

Resources must include collection medical processes, family history criteria affecting banking decisions, cost information for public and private banking, and lists of available banks and hospitals in Missouri.

Licensed physicians providing obstetrical or gynecological care must make cord blood banking information available to pregnant patients beginning October 1, 2011, prior to the third trimester or at first visit.