Title 32.1, Health

In order to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum, the physician, nurse or midwife in charge of the delivery of a baby or, if none, the first attending physician shall, immediately after the baby's birth, perform upon such baby the procedure prescribed by the Board. Such action shall be …

It shall be the duty of any physician, midwife or nurse who notes ophthalmia neonatorum within two weeks after the birth of an infant to perform or cause to be performed such tests as are necessary to ascertain the cause of such inflammation and to institute or have instituted ap…

The Board shall provide for the gratuitous distribution of the necessary treatment approved by it for ophthalmia neonatorum, together with proper directions for the use and administration thereof, to all physicians, midwives and hospitals requesting it. The Board shall provide fr…

A. For the purposes of this section, "RUSP" means the federal Recommended Uniform Screening Panel recommended by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. B. In order to prevent intellectual disability and permanent disability or death, every infant who i…

In order to prevent disability or death, the Board shall require every hospital in the Commonwealth having a newborn nursery to perform a critical congenital heart defect screening test using pulse oximetry or other Board-approved screening test that is based on standards set for…

Whenever a newborn screening test result indicates suspicion of any condition pursuant to § 32.1-65, the Commissioner shall notify forthwith the attending physician and shall perform or provide for additional testing required to confirm or disprove the diagnosis. All physicians, …

Infants identified with any condition for which newborn screening is conducted pursuant to § 32.1-65 or 32.1-65.1 shall be eligible for the services of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program administered by the Department of Health. The Board of Health shall promulga…

The results of the newborn screening services conducted pursuant to this article may be used for research and collective statistical purposes. No publication of research or statistical data shall be made that identifies any infant having a heritable or genetic disorder. The Commi…

A. The Commissioner, in cooperation with local health directors, shall establish a voluntary program for the screening of adults and children for the disease of sickle cell anemia or the sickle cell trait and for such other genetically related diseases and genetic traits and inbo…

The results of any particular screening program shall be sent to the physician of the person tested, if known, and either to the parents when the person screened is under the age of eighteen or to the person if he is eighteen years of age or over. The results of a screening progr…

A. Each hospital, clinic and independent pathology laboratory shall make available to the Commissioner or his agents information on patients having malignant tumors or cancers. A physician shall report information on patients having cancers unless he has determined that a hospita…

A. Using such funds as may be appropriated therefor, the Commissioner or his designee may perform on-site data collection of the records of patients having malignant tumors or cancers at those consenting hospitals, clinics, independent pathology laboratories and physician offices…

A. The Commissioner and all persons to whom information is submitted in accordance with § 32.1-70 shall keep such information confidential. Except as authorized by the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of § 32.1-41, no release of any such information shall be made ex…

In addition to the remedies provided in § 32.1-27, any person who uses, discloses or releases data maintained in the statewide cancer registry in violation of § 32.1-71 shall be subject, in the discretion of the court, to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 for each violation, …

A. Any physician diagnosing a malignant tumor or cancer shall, at such time and in such manner as considered appropriate by such physician, notify each patient whose name and record abstract is required to be reported to the statewide cancer registry pursuant to § 32.1-70 that pe…

The failure of any physician, nurse or midwife to comply with the provisions of § 32.1-60, § 32.1-62 or § 32.1-65 shall, in addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, constitute grounds for revocation of the license or permit of such physician, nurse or midwife by the board…

A. Using such funds as may be appropriated therefor, the Commissioner shall develop, maintain, and revise biennially a written comprehensive state plan for (i) reducing the rate of hospitalizations due to asthma and (ii) facilitating the effective management of persons with asthm…

A. Using such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, the Commissioner shall implement programs to meet the objectives of the statewide asthma management plan. The Commissioner shall assure, to the extent feasible and appropriate, that existing Department programs, systems…

With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, the Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, community services boards and behavioral health authorities, and local departments of health,…

The Department shall, in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, develop and administer a survey of students to facilitate planning and implementation of effective programs for the prevention of…

The Advisory Council shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly, by December 1 of each year, on the Advisory Council's recommendations related to: 1. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with …

This article shall expire on July 1, 2028.

A. There is hereby created in the executive branch of state government the Advisory Council on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (the Advisory Council), for the purpose of a…

The Department shall serve as the lead agency with responsibility for the development, coordination, and implementation of a plan for services for substance-exposed infants in the Commonwealth. Such plan shall support a trauma-informed approach to identification and treatment of …

Using such funds as may be available for such purpose, the Department, in consultation with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, shall have the lead responsibility for (i) educating and informing the public, based on evidence-based public health research and data…

There is hereby created in the executive branch of state government the Rare Disease Council (the Council) for the purpose of (i) advising the Governor and the General Assembly on the needs of individuals with rare diseases in the Commonwealth; (ii) identifying challenges that su…

The Council shall have the power and duty to: 1. Within the first year, hold public hearings and make inquiries of and solicit comments from the public to assist the Council in understanding the scope of rare diseases in the Commonwealth and the impact of rare diseases on individ…

A. The Council shall have a total membership of 21 members that shall consist of 18 nonlegislative citizen members and three ex officio members. The Governor shall appoint a chairman and vice-chairman who shall be residents of the Commonwealth and shall not be employed by any fed…

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Rare Disease Council Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts,…

There is hereby created in the executive branch of state government the Renal Disease Council (the Council) for the purpose of (i) advising the Governor and the General Assembly on the needs of individuals with renal disease in the Commonwealth; (ii) identifying challenges that s…

The Council shall have the power and duty to: 1. Within the first year, hold public hearings and make inquiries of and solicit comments from the public to assist the Council in understanding the scope of the challenges related to renal disease in the Commonwealth and the impact o…

A. The Council shall have a total membership of 21 members that shall consist of 18 nonlegislative citizen members and three ex officio members. The Governor shall appoint a chairman and vice-chairman who shall be residents of the Commonwealth and shall not be employed by any fed…

In order to prevent disability or death, every adult resident of the Commonwealth may be offered screening tests for sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, with an emphasis on individuals of reproductive age and individuals who are unaware of their sickle cell trait status. Th…

The Department shall establish and administer the Sickle Cell Trait Awareness and Education Program (the Program) to (i) conduct public awareness campaigns; (ii) provide educational resources; (iii) provide training to professionals, including health care providers, genetic couns…

A. Each hospital, clinic, and independent pathology laboratory shall make available to the Commissioner or his agents information on patients having sickle cell disease. A physician shall report information on patients having sickle cell disease unless he has determined that a ho…

A. Using such funds as may be appropriated therefor, the Commissioner or his designee may perform on-site data collection of the records of patients having sickle cell disease at those consenting hospitals, clinics, independent pathology laboratories, and physician offices requir…

A. The Commissioner and all persons to whom information is submitted in accordance with § 32.1-73.22 shall keep such information confidential. Except as authorized by the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of § 32.1-41, no release of any such information shall be made…

In addition to the remedies provided in § 32.1-27, any person who uses, discloses, or releases data maintained in the statewide sickle cell disease registry in violation of § 32.1-73.24 shall be subject, in the discretion of the court, to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 for…

A. Any physician diagnosing sickle cell disease shall, at such time and in such manner as considered appropriate by such physician, notify each patient whose name and record abstract is required to be reported to the statewide sickle cell disease registry pursuant to § 32.1-73.22…

The Commissioner shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly, by November 1 of each year, a report of the information obtained under this article.

A. For the purposes of this section: "Endometriosis" means a systemic disease generally occurring in menstruating individuals, which may also occur in premenarchal and postmenopausal individuals. "Menstrual disorder" means any menstruation-related disorder or menstruation-related…

A. As used in this section: "Confidential substance" means any element or substance that a manufacturer has added to a menstrual product that serves a technical or functional purpose in the finished menstrual product and: 1. For which a claim has been approved by the U.S. Environ…

A. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, shall develop and implement a statewide public awareness campaign on perinatal and postpartum depression. Such campaign shall: 1. Increase awareness about the symptoms, risk f…

A. The Department shall create and distribute educational materials on perinatal and postpartum depression. Such materials shall include: 1. Fact sheets on symptoms, causes, and available treatment options; 2. Contact information for local, state, and national resources, includin…

The Department shall develop and maintain an online resource hub that provides: 1. Up-to-date information on perinatal and postpartum depression; 2. A directory of mental health providers specializing in perinatal and postpartum care; 3. Information on available support groups, c…

A. The Department shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly that includes: 1. Metrics on public engagement with the programs implemented pursuant to this article; 2. Feedback from health care providers, community organizations, and individuals served …