2015 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH
Chapter 117 - NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM
§ 41-117-5 - State Health Department and University of Mississippi Medical Center to develop recommendations and strategies to improve health care for premature infants

(1) In addition to implementing the Nurse-Family Partnership Pilot program, the State Health Department jointly with the University of Mississippi Medical Center may:

(a) Develop standards of care for premature infants born less than thirty-seven (37) weeks gestational age to help improve their access to and quality of care in their first year of life.

(b) Examine and make recommendations to improve hospital discharge and follow-up care procedures to promote coordinated processes as premature infants leave the hospital from either a Level 1 (well baby nursery), Level 2 (step down or transitional nursery) or Level 3 (neonatal intensive care unit) unit and transition to follow-up care by a health care provider in the community.

(c) Urge hospitals serving infants eligible for medical assistance and child health assistance to report to the state the causes and incidence of all rehospitalizations of infants born premature at less than thirty-seven (37) weeks gestational age within their first six (6) months of life.

(d) Develop recommendations for quality measures to assess health care outcomes of premature infants.

(e) Develop recommendations to ensure access to preventive health care therapies to protect premature infants from common infectious diseases, including respiratory syncytial virus.

(f) Measurably improve the quality of care for premature infants through advocacy of evidenced-based approaches and proposals for legislation, regulation and public policy change.

(2) The State Board of Health program may:

(a) Review relevant evidence-based research regarding premature infant health care and seek input from public and private entities currently associated with treatment of prematurity.

(b) Develop recommendations and strategies to improve health care for premature infants by:

(i) Developing standards of care for premature infants born less than thirty-seven (37) weeks gestational age pursuant to Section 41-117-3;

(ii) Coordinating information among appropriate professional and advocacy organizations on measures to improve health care for infants born premature; and

(iii) Issuing findings of goals, objectives, strategies and tactics to improve premature infant health care in Mississippi.