Section 2522. Programs; powers of the commissioner

1. Comprehensive
  prenatal care services available  under  the  prenatal  care  assistance
  program include:
    (a) prenatal risk assessment;
    (b) prenatal care visits;
    (c) laboratory services;
    (d) health education for both parents regarding prenatal nutrition and
  other  aspects  of  prenatal  care,  alcohol  and tobacco use, substance
  abuse, use of medication, labor and delivery, family planning to prevent
  future  unintended  pregnancies,  breast  feeding,   infant   care   and
  parenting;
    (e) referral for pediatric care;
    (f)  referral  for  nutrition services including screening, education,
  counseling, follow-up and provision of services under the women, infants
  and  children's  program  and  the  supplemental  nutrition   assistance
  program;
    (g)  mental health and related social services including screening and
  counseling;
    (h) transportation services for prenatal care services;
    (i) labor and delivery services;
    (j) post-partum services including family planning services;
    (k) inpatient care, specialty physician and clinic services which  are
  necessary to assure a healthy delivery and recovery;
    (l) dental services;
    (m) emergency room services;
    (n) home care; and
    (o) pharmaceuticals.
    2. The commissioner shall provide for the development of prenatal care
  assistance  programs in those areas of the state that lack prenatal care
  services  for  low-income  pregnant  women  or  where  eligible  service
  recipients are unserved or underserved.
    3.  If  the  prenatal  care  service  provider is a physician or nurse
  midwife practicing on an individual or group  basis  and  is  unable  to
  directly  provide  the  services  enumerated  in subdivision one of this
  section, payment may be provided to such physician or nurse midwife  for
  those services that will be provided by such physician or nurse midwife.
  Payment  may be provided to a public or private not-for-profit agency or
  organization for those services not provided by the physician  or  nurse
  midwife.    The  prenatal  care  service  provider  and  the  agency  or
  organization receiving payment  under  this  subdivision  shall  develop
  linkages   to  coordinate  services  provided  to  an  eligible  service
  recipient.
    4. The commissioner is also authorized to provide funds, including the
  awarding  of  grants  to  public  education  organizations,  for  public
  education,  outreach  and  referral  to prenatal care service providers.
  This education, outreach and referral may include:
    (a) public education concerning availability of prenatal services;
    (b) promotion of community awareness of the benefits of pre-conception
  health and early and continued prenatal care;
    (c) outreach and direct recruitment of service recipients;
    (d) referrals and linkage with other community services; and
    (e) follow-up of patient participation  in  prenatal  care  assistance
  programs.
    5.  The  commissioner is authorized to seek and obtain the cooperation
  and assistance of federal  and  state  agencies,  including  the  United
  States departments of agriculture and health and human services, and New
  York  state  divisions  of alcohol and alcohol abuse and substance abuse
  services and the department of social services.

    6. The commissioner is authorized to set standards for  prenatal  care
  service  providers  including,  but  not  limited  to,  quality  of care
  assurances. The commissioner is  authorized  to  inquire  into  services
  provided,  and  providers and organizations shall furnish the department
  such  reports,  records  and information as it may require to effectuate
  the provisions of this title and section seven of the Prenatal Care  Act
  of  1987.  All  information  concerning service recipients shall be kept
  confidential, except as otherwise provided in  this  title  and  section
  seven  of  the  Prenatal  Care  Act  of 1987. All information concerning
  applicants for  or  recipients  of  medical  assistance  shall  be  kept
  confidential  as  required by subdivision three of section three hundred
  sixty-nine of the social services law.