§16-22B-2. Birth score program established.

(a) The Bureau of Public Health may establish and implement a birth score program designed to combat postneonatal mortality and to detect debilitating conditions and possible developmental delays in newborn infants in the state.

(b) The purpose and goals of the birth score program are to reduce the incidence of postneonatal mortality and disease by:

(1) Identifying newborns at greatest risk for death between one month and one year of age; and

(2) Linking these infants with physicians for close follow-up during the first year of life.

(c) The birth score of a newborn infant shall be determined pursuant to the program established by the division of health by trained hospital or birthing facility personnel immediately after the infant is delivered.