Title: Newborn Hearing Screenings

Summary: Defining the term "congenital cytomegalovirus test"; revising newborn hearing screening requirements to require that all newborns, rather than only those who fail the initial newborn hearing screening, be tested for congenital cytomegalovirus, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to newborn hearing screenings; amending s. 383.145, F.S.; defining the term  congenital cytomegalovirus test ; revising newborn hearing screening requirements to require that all newborns, rather than only those who fail the initial newborn hearing screening, be tested for congenital cytomegalovirus; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Present paragraphs (b) through (j) of subsection (2) of section 383.145, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (c) through (k), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is added to that subsection, and paragraphs (a) through (e) and present paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of that section are amended, to read: 383.145 Newborn and infant hearing screening.  (2) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section, the term: (b) Congenital cytomegalovirus test  means a test approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or another diagnostically equivalent test to screen newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus. (3) REQUIREMENTS FOR SCREENING OF NEWBORNS; INSURANCE COVERAGE; REFERRAL FOR ONGOING SERVICES.  (a) Each hospital or other state-licensed birthing facility that provides maternity and newborn care services shall ensure that all newborns are, before discharge, screened for the detection of hearing loss to prevent the consequences of unidentified disorders. If a newborn fails the screening for the detection of hearing loss, The hospital or other state-licensed birthing facility must also administer a congenital cytomegalovirus test approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or another diagnostically equivalent test on the newborn to screen for congenital cytomegalovirus before the newborn becomes days of age or before discharge, whichever occurs earlier. (b) Each licensed birth center that provides maternity and newborn care services shall ensure that all newborns are, before discharge, referred to an audiologist, a hospital, or another newborn hearing screening provider for screening for the detection of hearing loss to prevent the consequences of unidentified disorders an dreferred for the administration of a congenital cytomegalovirus test.The referrals referral for appointment must be made within days after discharge. Written documentation of the referrals referral must be placed in the newborn s medical chart. (c) If the parent or legal guardian of the newborn objects to the screening or testing,the screening or testing, as applicable, must not be completed. In such case, the physician, midwife, or other person attending the newborn shall maintain a record that the screening or testing has not been performed and attach a written objection that must be signed by the parent or guardian. (d) For home births, the health care provider in attendance is responsible for coordinating the referral of the newborn coordination and referral to an audiologist, a hospital, or another newborn hearing screening provider for screening for the detection of hearing loss and for coordinating the referral for administration of a congenital cytomegalovirus test.The health care provider in attendance must make the referrals referral for appointment within days after the birth. In cases in which the home birth is not attended by a health care provider, the newborn s primary health care provider is responsible for coordinating the referrals referral.(e) For ho me births and births in a licensed birth center, if a newborn is referred to a newborn hearing screening provider and the newborn fails the screening for the detection of hearing loss, the newborn s primary health care provider must refer the newborn for administration of a test approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or another diagnostically equivalent test on the newborn to screen for congenital cytomegalovirus. (f) (g)  The screening of a newborn s hearing and administration of a congenital cytomegalovirus test on the newborn must be completed before the newborn is discharged from the hospital. However, if the screening and testing is not completed before discharge due to scheduling or temporary staffing limitations, the screening and testing must be completed within days after the birth. Screenings completed after discharge or performed because of initial screening failure must be completed by an audiologist, a physician, a hospital, or another newborn hearing screening provider. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.