Perinatal hospice bill approved

A bill that would provide information regarding perinatal hospice to a pregnant woman diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly was passed April 24.

Under LB506, introduced by Thurston Sen. Joni Albrecht, a physician who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may provide information regarding perinatal hospice services, which the bill defines as comprehensive support from the time of diagnosis through the death of an infant and the postpartum period.

A lethal fetal anomaly is defined as a condition diagnosed before birth that will — with reasonable certainty — result in the death of an unborn child within three months of birth.

Under the bill, the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to provide an information support sheet of available programs and services, which also will be posted on the department website.

The bill also contains provisions of LB287, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart, that allow the DHHS Child and Maternal Death Review Team to enter into written agreements to provide secure electronic storage of information and records collected by the review team.

LB506 passed on a 49-0 vote.