The California Prenatal Screening (PNS) Program is a comprehensive public health service that makes prenatal screening available to all pregnant individuals in the state who want it. Each year approximately 340,000 pregnant individuals choose prenatal screening through the PNS Program.
Prenatal Care providers must share information about the PNS Program with their pregnant patients. Pregnant individuals decide if they want to participate in the PNS Program. If they do participate, Medi-Cal or private health insurance must cover all program fees, with only a few exceptions (self-insured employers or out-of-state health plans). In addition to screening, for patients with positive screening results, the program fee includes high-quality follow-up services, such as genetic counseling, ultrasound, and diagnostic tests at state-approved Prenatal Diagnosis Centers (PDCs).
The PNS Program also provides patient and provider educational materials focused on the benefits and limitations of screening. A program e-newsletter with important updates is published on an as-needed basis. The PNS Program additionally maintains contracts and provides quality control monitoring for all state-approved PDCs.
āTitle: California Prenatal Screening Program Provider Video
Published: 8/8/2022
Duration: 7:01
Two-page posters to print and hang on your office wall
We are providing these translations of the patient consent language on the California Prenatal Screening Program order forms as a courtesy. They should not take the place of your practiceās translation or interpretation services necessary to ensure appropriate consent. Please feel free to share the translated consent language with patients, but ask them to sign the English language Consent and Order Confirmation or Back-up Patient Order Form.
āPrenatal Diagnosis Center (PDC) Standards and Definitions 2022 (PDF)āā
All Education Resources for Patients
Genetic Support Foundation Videos
Prenatal Screening Patient Booklet - English (PDF, 1.3MB)
Prenatal Screening Patient Booklet X and Y Insert - English (PDF, 2 pages)
Patient Booklet Summaries - These summaries should be used in addition to the patient booklets, not instead of them. It is important that each patient receive the patient booklet. The patient booklet includes a full description of the program and its components, what consent means, and mandated legal notices.
Prenatal Screening Patient Glossary - English (PDF, 2 pages) āāāāā
Prenatal Screening Patient Booklet (use āselāect languageā button in top right of web page to view in additional languages)
Patient FAQā
Prenatal Screening Patient Video (English, MP4, 3.29 min)
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Information Survey
To download, distribute, or share a PNS Program patient video file, please follow a link to the vimeo site and download each video separately.