HOUSE  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  No. 4076

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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                              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 14, 2014.                         

The committee on Health Care Financing to whom was referred the Bill relative to folic acid awareness and birth defects prevention (House, No. 2103, changed), reports recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting therefore a bill with the same title (House, No. 4076) [Cost: Greater than $100,000.00].

For the committee,

JENNIFER E. BENSON.

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4076

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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An Act relative to folic acid awareness and birth defects prevention.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws,as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:—

Section 230.  In order to increase public awareness of and education about the importance of folic acid among patients, families and health care providers, the commissioner shall administer a folic acid awareness initiative. The commissioner, shall consider what actions are needed to ensure that women are informed about and receive the recommended daily dosage levels of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.  The commissioner shall adopt regulations specifying the recommended daily dosage levels for for women of childbearing age and for women during pregnancy.  The department shall consult with statewide maternal and child health organizations and other state programs, including but not limited to MassHealth, about methods to promote folic acid awareness.