§ 23-13-13 - Testing for hearing impairments.
SECTION 23-13-13
§ 23-13-13 Testing for hearingimpairments. – (a) It is declared to be the public policy of this state that every newborninfant be evaluated by procedures approved by the state department of healthfor the detection of hearing impairments, in order to prevent many of theconsequences of these disorders. No hearing impairment test shall be made as toany newborn infant if the parents of that child object to the test on thegrounds that a hearing impairment test would conflict with their religioustenets or practices.
(b) The physician attending a newborn child shall cause thechild to be subject to hearing impairment tests as described in department ofhealth regulations.
(c) In addition, the department of health is authorized toestablish by rules and regulations a reasonable fee structure for hearingimpairment testing to cover program costs not otherwise covered by federalgrant funds specifically secured for this purpose. This testing shall be acovered benefit reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined in §27-38.2-2(1) except for supplemental policies that only provide coverage forspecific diseases, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or othersupplemental policies. The department of human services shall pay for hearingimpairment testing when the patient is eligible for medical assistance underthe provisions of chapter 8 of title 40. In the absence of a third party payorthe charges for hearing impairment testing shall be paid by the hospital orother health care facility where the birth occurred. Nothing in this sectionshall preclude the hospital or health care facility from billing the patientdirectly. Those fees shall be deposited into a restricted receipt accountentitled the "newborn screening account".
(d) There is created a hearing impairments testing advisorycommittee which shall advise the director of the department of health regardingthe validity and cost of testing procedures. That advisory committee shall:
(1) Meet at least four (4) times per year;
(2) Be chaired by the director or his or her designee;
(3) Be composed of seven (7) members appointed by thedirector from the following professions or organizations:
(i) A representative of the health insurance industry;
(ii) A pediatrician, designated by the R.I. chapter of theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics;
(iii) An audiologist, designated by the R.I. chapter of theAmerican Speech and Hearing Association;
(iv) Two (2) representatives of hospital neonatal nurseries;
(v) A representative of special education designated by thedepartment of elementary and secondary education; and
(vi) The director of health or his or her designee.