§ 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.