191.710.  MO HealthNet program and SCHIPS to focus on premature infant health care. — The MO HealthNet program and the health care for uninsured children program under sections 208.631 to 208.659, in consultation with statewide organizations focused on premature infant health care, shall:

  (1)  Examine and improve hospital discharge and follow-up care procedures for premature infants born earlier than thirty-seven weeks gestational age to ensure standardized and coordinated processes are followed as premature infants leave the hospital from either a well-baby nursery, step-down or transitional nursery, or neonatal intensive care unit and transition to follow-up care by a health care provider in the community;

  (2)  Urge hospitals serving infants eligible for medical assistance under the MO HealthNet and health care for uninsured children programs to report to the state the causes and incidence of all re-hospitalizations of infants born premature at earlier than thirty-seven weeks gestational age within their first six months of life; and

  (3)  Use guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Neonatal Outcomes Improvement Project to implement programs to improve newborn outcomes, reduce newborn health costs, and establish ongoing quality improvement for newborns.