PROJECTS FOR HIGH-RISK PREGNANT WOMEN AND HIGH-RISK CHILDREN.

(a) The commission shall establish programs of case management for high-risk pregnant women and high-risk children to age one as provided under Section 1915(g) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1396n).

(b) Case management programs may be developed using contracts with public health entities, hospitals, community health clinics, physicians, or other appropriate entities which have the capacity to carry out the full scope of case management activities. The case manager shall assess the needs of the pregnant woman and the child and serve as a broker to assure that all needs as defined in this subsection are met to the greatest extent possible given existing services available in the project area. These activities shall include:

(1) assuring that the pregnant woman seeks and receives early and appropriate prenatal care that conforms to prescribed medical regimes;

(2) assisting the pregnant woman and child in gaining access to appropriate social, educational, nutritional, and other ancillary services as needed in accordance with federal Medicaid law; and

(3) assuring appropriate coordination within the medical community.

(c) The provisions of Subsection (b) of this section shall not be construed to allow a case manager to interfere with the physician-patient relationship and shall not be construed as conferring any authority to practice medicine.

(d) The commission shall use existing funds of the commission or any other lawful source to fund and support the projects for high-risk pregnant women and high-risk children.