KRS 211.655: Legislative findings and statement of intent.

The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that congenital anomalies, stillbirths, and high risk conditions represent problems of significant health importance about which too little is known; that conditions of this nature lead to severe mental anguis h on the part of parents and frequently to high medical care costs; and that a system to obtain more information about these conditions could result in development and implementation of preventive measures to decrease their incidence and prevalence in the future. Therefore, it is the intent of the General Assembly to:

(1) Provide information on the incidence, prevalence, and trends of birth defects, stillbirths, and high risk conditions;

(2) Provide information as to the possible causes of congenital anomal ies, stillbirths, and high risk conditions; and

(3) Develop prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of congenital anomalies, stillbirths, and high risk conditions and to reduce secondary complications associated with high risk conditions.