Legal Requirements

Legal Requirements Under the statutory authority, the Board of Health (the board) shall: 1. Establish in the department a birth defects surveillance program to: a. identify and investigate birth defects, and b. maintain a central registry of cases of birth defects 2. Design a birth defects data system that will: a. provide information to identify risk factors and causes of birth defects, provide information on other possible causes of birth defects, b. provide for the development of strategies to prevent birth defects, c. provide for interview studies about the causes of birth defects, and d. provide for the collection of birth defect information 3. Adopt rules, regulations and procedures to govern the operation of the registry program and to carry out the intent of this action 4. Specify the types of information to be provided to the birth defects registry and the persons and entities who are required to provide such information to the birth defects registry 5. Prescribe the manner in which records and other information are made available to the department 6. Obtain records and/or test results of individuals with birth defects not previously reported or observed for inclusion in the central registry. 7. Collect, analyze and place data in the central registry to facilitate epidemiological studies/ reviews and to maintain security 8. Use the registry to: a. investigate the causes of birth defects and other health conditions as authorized by statute, b. design and evaluate measures to prevent the occurrence of birth defects, and other conditions, and c. refer and track children with special health care needs d. conduct other investigations and activities necessary for the board and the department to fulfill their obligation to protect the public health