135.131 - UNIVERSAL NEWBORN AND INFANT HEARING SCREENING.
135.131 UNIVERSAL NEWBORN AND INFANT HEARING
SCREENING.
1. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise
requires:
a. "Birth center" means birth center as defined in section
135.61.
b. "Birthing hospital" means a private or public hospital
licensed pursuant to chapter 135B that has a licensed obstetric unit
or is licensed to provide obstetric services.
2. All newborns and infants born in this state shall be screened
for hearing loss in accordance with this section. The person
required to perform the screening shall use at least one of the
following procedures:
a. Automated or diagnostic auditory brainstem response.
b. Otoacoustic emissions.
c. Any other technology approved by the department.
3. a. A birthing hospital shall screen every newborn
delivered in the hospital for hearing loss prior to discharge of the
newborn from the birthing hospital. A birthing hospital that
transfers a newborn for acute care prior to completion of the hearing
screening shall notify the receiving facility of the status of the
hearing screening. The receiving facility shall be responsible for
completion of the newborn hearing screening.
b. The birthing hospital or other facility completing the
hearing screening under this subsection shall report the results of
the screening to the parent or guardian of the newborn and to the
department in a manner prescribed by rule of the department. The
birthing hospital or other facility shall also report the results of
the hearing screening to the primary care provider of the newborn or
infant upon discharge from the birthing hospital or other facility.
If the newborn or infant was not tested prior to discharge, the
birthing hospital or other facility shall report the status of the
hearing screening to the primary care provider of the newborn or
infant.
4. A birth center shall refer the newborn to a licensed
audiologist, physician, or hospital for screening for hearing loss
prior to discharge of the newborn from the birth center. The hearing
screening shall be completed within thirty days following discharge
of the newborn. The person completing the hearing screening shall
report the results of the screening to the parent or guardian of the
newborn and to the department in a manner prescribed by rule of the
department. Such person shall also report the results of the
screening to the primary care provider of the newborn.
5. If a newborn is delivered in a location other than a birthing
hospital or a birth center, the physician or other health care
professional who undertakes the pediatric care of the newborn or
infant shall ensure that the hearing screening is performed within
three months of the date of the newborn's or infant's birth. The
physician or other health care professional shall report the results
of the hearing screening to the parent or guardian of the newborn or
infant, to the primary care provider of the newborn or infant, and to
the department in a manner prescribed by rule of the department.
6. A birthing hospital, birth center, physician, or other health
care professional required to report information under subsection 3,
4, or 5 shall report all of the following information to the
department relating to a newborn's or infant's hearing screening, as
applicable:
a. The name, address, and telephone number, if available, of
the mother of the newborn or infant.
b. The primary care provider at the time of the newborn's or
infant's discharge from the birthing hospital or birth center.
c. The results of the hearing screening.
d. Any rescreenings and the diagnostic audiological
assessment procedures used.
e. Any known risk indicators for hearing loss of the newborn
or infant.
f. Other information specified in rules adopted by the
department.
7. The department may share information with agencies and persons
involved with newborn and infant hearing screenings, follow-up, and
intervention services, including the local birth-to-three coordinator
or similar agency, the local area education agency, and local health
care providers. The department shall adopt rules to protect the
confidentiality of the individuals involved.
8. An audiologist who provides services addressed by this section
shall conduct diagnostic audiological assessments of newborns and
infants in accordance with standards specified in rules adopted by
the department. The audiologist shall report all of the following
information to the department relating to a newborn's or infant's
hearing, follow-up, diagnostic audiological assessment, and
intervention services, as applicable:
a. The name, address, and telephone number, if available, of
the mother of the newborn or infant.
b. The results of the hearing screening and any rescreenings,
including the diagnostic audiological assessment procedures used.
c. The nature of any follow-up or other intervention services
provided to the newborn or infant.
d. Any known risk indicators for hearing loss of the newborn
or infant.
e. Other information specified in rules adopted by the
department.
9. This section shall not apply if the parent objects to the
screening. If a parent objects to the screening, the birthing
hospital, birth center, physician, or other health care professional
required to report information under subsection 3, 4, or 5 to the
department shall obtain a written refusal from the parent, shall
document the refusal in the newborn's or infant's medical record, and
shall report the refusal to the department in the manner prescribed
by rule of the department.
10. A person who acts in good faith in complying with this
section shall not be civilly or criminally liable for reporting the
information required to be reported by this section. Section History: Recent Form
2003 Acts, ch 102, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 37, §3
Referred to in § 135.119, 135B.18A