Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children
Headline: Health Department Directed to Protect Newborns' Access to Care
What it does: The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure federally funded programs comply with newborn care laws, investigate violations, and prioritize research and training funding.
- Hospitals receiving federal funds must provide screening and stabilizing care to newborns.
- Health Department can investigate complaints and cut federal funding for violators.
- Increases grant and research funding focus on treatments to improve infant survival.
Summary
This order declares that every baby born alive must receive the same legal protections and medical care, regardless of how premature they are or whether they have a disability. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to make sure hospitals and programs that get federal money follow laws requiring medical screening and stabilizing treatment, and not discourage parents from seeking care.
The order also requires investigations of complaints, possible loss of federal funding for violators, and prioritizes research and training to improve infant survival.
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