GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 862

Short Title:  Infant Mortality Prev. Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Colton; Barnes, Barnhill, N. Crawford, Duncan, Easterling, Foster, Greenwood, Hackney, Hardaway, Holt, Judy Hunt, H. Hunter, R. Hunter, Hurley, Jeralds, Kennedy, Locks, Lutz, Nesbitt, Perdue, Stamey, S. Thompson, and Wiser.
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Referred to:  Human Resources.
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March 27, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY AND INFANT MORBIDITY IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina has the sixth worst infant mortality rate in this nation; and
Whereas, the infant mortality rate increased from 11.6 deaths to 12.1 deaths per 1000 live births between 1986 and 1987, a four and one-third percent (4 1/3%) increase; and
Whereas, babies who are born prematurely or weigh less than five and one-half pounds at birth are 40 times more likely to die within the first month of life as are normal weight babies; and
Whereas, the cost of intensive care of one low birth weight baby costs from thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) to several hundred thousand dollars in our premature nurseries to save its life; and
Whereas, premature infants are at a high risk of long-term handicapping conditions including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and blindness, which require continued support from tax dollars for their care; and
Whereas, the cost of intensive neonatal care for five low birth weight babies would pay for the prenatal care of 149 women; and
Whereas, demonstration projects and medical experience have shown that the number of premature infants or low birth weight babies can be dramatically reduced by early and continuous prenatal care throughout pregnancy; and
Whereas, 13 counties no longer provide prenatal care in their public health clinics and the other 87 health departments have inadequate facilities and staff to serve prenatal patients in a timely manner; and
Whereas, many family practitioners and obstetricians no longer provide prenatal care and deliver babies because of high malpractice insurance costs; and
Whereas, the Task Force of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, after a two-year review of the infant mortality and infant morbidity problem in North Carolina, has focused on the importance of preventing prematurity by identifying high risk mothers, providing early and adequate prenatal care, and intensively educating the patients and providers about the costliness of failure to prevent premature births; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year to employ four teams of obstetricians and nurses, trained in obstetrics, to serve critically underserved counties in the eastern and western portions of North Carolina.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year to provide discretionary funds to county local health departments to fill gaps including preconceptional, prenatal, delivery, and postnatal services, to low income women.  Such funds may be used for transportations, staffing, space, special tests, services and medications as needed.
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services, the sum of one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year to establish one community consultant in each of the four DHR Regional offices. These consultants will work with each county, in their region, to identify needed services for care of women from preconception to the first postpartum month. They will work with community organizations, churches, county commissioners, businesses, schools to form a connecting link to State maternal and child services.
Sec. 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Health Services, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the 1989-90 fiscal year and the sum of one hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000) for the 1990-91 fiscal year to pay for an educational program, an awareness campaign through TV, radio, and news media, to alert the general public, the patients, and the physicians of the urgency of providing early, continuous, good prenatal care to all women of childbearing age. Continuing efforts will be made to prevent teenage pregnancy, pregnancy in women on alcohol or drugs, and other high risk conditions.
Sec. 5.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.