Chapter 04. Lead Poisoning Screening Program

“Administer a blood test for lead poisoning” means to:

“At-risk area” means any geographic area within the State that has been designated by the Department as at-risk for lead exposure in the 2015 Targeting Plan for Areas at Risk for Childhood Lead Poisoning.

“Blood lead analysis” means the analysis and determination by a medical laboratory of the blood lead level in a blood specimen.

“Blood lead reference value” means a blood lead level of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.

“CDC” means the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Child” means an individual younger than 18 years old.

Repealed.

“Department” means the Maryland Department of Health.

Repealed.

“EPSDT” means the Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment program governed by COMAR 10.09.23.

“Health care provider” means a person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to provide health care services under the Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Repealed.

“Immunization registry” means an immunization registry established and maintained by the Department.

“Lead exposure risk questionnaire” means the set of questions used to determine an individual's risk for lead exposure and lead poisoning, as approved by the Department and based on the recommendations from the CDC.

Repealed.

“Medical laboratory” means a licensed medical laboratory as defined by Health-General Article, §17-201(b), Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Nonprimary care” means health care that:

Prekindergarten Program.

“Primary care” means health care that:

“Primary care provider” means a health care provider that provides primary care.

“Targeting Plan” means the 2015 Targeting Plan for Areas at Risk for Childhood Lead Poisoning developed by the Department that includes but is not limited to:

“12-month visit” means a well-child evaluation by a health care provider that occurs when a child is between 12 months old and 14 months old.

“24-month visit” means a well-child evaluation by a health care provider that occurs when the child is between 24 months old and 26 months old.

“Well-child evaluation” means a periodic primary care assessment of a child by a primary care provider in accordance with the:

Child has not previously received a blood test for lead poisoning;

Child's parent or guardian fails to provide documentation that the child has previously received a blood test for lead poisoning; or

Provider is unable to obtain the results of a previous blood lead analysis.

An affirmative answer, or a response indicating that the parent or guardian does not know the answer, is given for any question on a lead exposure risk questionnaire that is completed for the child pursuant to Regulation .03 of this chapter; or

The child's parent or guardian requests that the child receive a blood test for lead poisoning regardless of the child's age or area of residence.

Draws the blood specimen; or

Performs the blood lead analysis.

If the parent or guardian of a child refuses to consent to a blood test for lead poisoning due to the parent or guardian's stated bona fide religious beliefs and practices, a primary care provider shall:

If an affirmative response to the questionnaire under §H(1)(b) of this regulation, or a response indicating that the parent or guardian does not know the answer, is entered for any question on the lead exposure risk questionnaire for the child, the provider shall:

If all the responses to the lead exposure risk questionnaire are negative, the provider shall:

Maryland public prekindergarten program; or

Maryland public school system at the level of prekindergarten, kindergarten or first grade.

Document and certify by signature the dates of the blood lead analysis administered to a child pursuant to Regulation .04A of this chapter on a form developed by the Department; and

Upon request by the child’s public school or program administrator, or the administrator’s designee, for a child who resides or has previously resided in an at-risk area, provide to the school or program the certified documentation of the child’s blood lead analysis, as specified in §G of this regulation, in order to facilitate the Department’s public health surveillance activities relating to lead poisoning.

20 calendar days from the 12-month visit or 24-month visit; or

20 calendar days from first entry into the program or system.

Name of the child;

Date and result of the blood lead analysis; and

The signature of the:

Take their child to a primary care provider for the provider to complete a lead poisoning risk assessment questionnaire; and

Submit to the administrator of the child's school or program, or the administrator's designee, a written, signed statement of exemption on a form issued by the Department.

The program or school shall give notice in accordance with §J(2) of this regulation to the parent or guardian of a child who resides or has resided in an at-risk area who does not provide:

The notice required under this section shall state that the parent or guardian is required by law to provide the information under §J(1) of this regulation at the time of enrollment.