53-19-402. Statewide universal newborn hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program. (1) There is a universal newborn hearing screening program in the department of public health and human services. The department shall implement the program to encourage a hearing screening test for all newborn infants to undergo for identification of newborn infant hearing loss. The department shall encourage newborn infant hearing tests to be completed before discharge from a hospital or no later than 3 months after birth.
     (2) The department shall adopt rules to:
     (a) determine the volume of births that would allow a hospital or health care facility to be exempt from providing newborn infant hearing screenings onsite before discharge;
     (b) develop information for and procedures by which health care providers, local health departments, health care clinics, school districts, and other appropriate resources may promote the importance of the screening of newborn infants' hearing and provide information regarding locations where screenings may be accessed for those newborn infants either not born in a hospital or who do not receive a screening in a hospital; and
     (c) determine any additional reporting requirements that are related to newborn infant hearing screening, evaluation, audiologic assessment, treatment, and intervention services.
     (3) The department shall assist hospitals in developing systems for reporting and in accessing funds to purchase hearing screening equipment by providing information on funding sources known to the department.
     (4) The department may accept contributions, gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources for the use and benefit of this program.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 250, L. 2001.