1. (a) The Secretary shall make an assessment of the Department's health care services and ability-to-pay schedule for prenatal and infant care services offered through local health agencies.

2. (b) The assessment shall include the following:

   1. (1) The availability of efficient health care services and providers;
   2. (2) The identification of health care services that are not available;
   3. (3) Access to health care;
   4. (4) The need for specific health care;
   5. (5) An evaluation of alternative means of providing health care services; and
   6. (6) Financial and manpower resources required and available.

3. (c) An applicant for services under this section shall receive:

   1. (1) A personal financial consultation without charge to assess the applicant's ability to pay for health care offered through local health agencies; and
   2. (2) Notification of the right to obtain services offered through local health agencies regardless of ability to pay.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The Secretary shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
   2. (2) Local health agencies shall implement uniform procedures to notify and consult potential prenatal and infant care services recipients.
   3. (3) Reduced rates for recipients of services shall be applied fairly and uniformly, and according to the sliding fee scale developed by the Department.

Added by Acts 1987, c. 468, § 1, eff. July 1, 1987.