2004 Minnesota Statutes

     144.2215 Minnesota birth defects information system. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment.  The commissioner of 
 health shall establish and maintain an information system 
 containing data on the cause, treatment, prevention, and cure of 
 major birth defects.  The commissioner shall consult with 
 representatives and experts in epidemiology, medicine, 
 insurance, health maintenance organizations, genetics, 
 consumers, and voluntary organizations in developing the system 
 and may phase in the implementation of the system. 

    Subd. 2.    Duties of commissioner.  The commissioner of 
 health shall design a system that allows the commissioner to: 

    (1) monitor incidence trends of birth defects to detect 
 potential public health problems, predict risks, and assist in 
 responding to birth defects clusters; 

    (2) more accurately target intervention, prevention, and 
 services for communities, patients, and their families; 

    (3) inform health professionals and citizens of the 
 prevalence of and risks for birth defects; 

    (4) conduct scientific investigation and surveys of the 
 causes, mortality, methods of treatment, prevention, and cure 
 for birth defects; 

    (5) modify, as necessary, the birth defects information 
 system through demonstration projects; 

    (6) remove identifying information about a child whose 
 parent or legal guardian has chosen not to participate in the 
 system as permitted by section 144.2216, subdivision 4; 

    (7) protect the individually identifiable information as 
 required by section 144.2217; 

    (8) limit the dissemination of identifying information as 
 required by sections 144.2218 and 144.2219; and 

    (9) use the birth defects coding scheme defined by the 
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United 
 States Public Health Service.  

    HIST: 1996 c 451 art 4 s 6; 2004 c 288 art 6 s 11; 2004 c 290 
 s 25 

*   NOTE:  The amendments to this section by Laws 2004, chapter 
*288, article 6, section 11, and Laws 2004, chapter 290, section 
*25, are effective upon receipt of a federal grant to establish a 
*birth defects information system.  Laws 2004, chapter 288, 
*article 6, section 11, the effective date, and Laws 2004, 
*chapter 290, section 25, the effective date.