HOUSE BILL NO. 1607 Offered January 24, 2006 A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-67 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special food products required in the management of phenylketonuria. ---------- Patrons-- Gear and Armstrong ---------- Unanimous consent to introduce ---------- Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 32.1-67 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-67. (Effective March 1, 2006) Duty of Board for follow-up and referral protocols; regulations.

A. Infants identified with any condition for which newborn screening is conducted pursuant to § 32.1-65 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 promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to implement Newborn Screening Services and the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program. The Board's regulations shall include, but not be limited to, a list of newborn screening tests conducted pursuant to § 32.1-65, follow-up procedures, appropriate referral processes, and services available for infants and children who have a heritable disorder or genetic disease identified through Newborn Screening Services.

B. The Board's regulations relating to services available for infants and children identified as having heritable disorders or genetic diseases shall include procedures to reimburse the parents or guardian of any child who is a legal resident of the Commonwealth and who is diagnosed as requiring treatment for phenylketonuria for the special food products required in the management of phenylketonuria. The special food products shall include medical formulas that are designed specifically for the treatment of phenylketonuria and low-protein modified foods (not foods naturally low in protein) that are designed specifically for use in the treatment for inborn errors of metabolism. The parents or guardian of any such child shall, with such funds as are appropriated, receive reimbursement from the Department for the cost of such medical formulas and special low-protein modified foods in an amount not to exceed $2,000 per diagnosed person per year. The reimbursement required by this section shall be payable quarterly by the first day of January, April, July, and October.