§ 2522. Programs; powers of the commissioner. In order to promote
comprehensive prenatal care, the commissioner is authorized to provide
funds, including the awarding of grants to not-for-profit
community-based organizations, local health departments, public
education organizations and such other organizations as may be
designated by the commissioner, for public and provider education and
outreach, home visiting, referral of pregnant women to prenatal care
providers, and improvement of regional systems of perinatal care. This
education, outreach, home visiting, referral and systems improvement may
include, but is not limited to:

(a) public education concerning availability of prenatal services;

(b) promotion of community awareness of the benefits to the mother and
child of preconception health and early and continuous prenatal care;

(c) outreach and direct recruitment of service recipients and
providers;

(d) referrals and linkage to organizations providing assistance with
applications for medical assistance and enrollment in Medicaid managed
care programs;

(e) referrals and linkage with home visiting and other community
services;

(e-1) health and nutritional education and services for both parents,
regarding childhood and adult obesity and asthma, and the prevention or
mitigation thereof;

(f) follow-up of patient participation in prenatal care services;

(g) identification of regional perinatal health care system barriers
and limitations that lead to poor perinatal outcomes and development of
strategies to address such barriers and limitations; and

(h) coordination of service delivery by community-based organizations
among health care providers and health plans using health information
technology and uniform screening criteria for perinatal risk.