Bill Text: FL S0394 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Newborn Hearing Screenings
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Health Policy [S0394 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S0394-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2023 SB 394 By Senator Polsky 30-00106-23 2023394__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to newborn hearing screenings; 3 amending s. 383.145, F.S.; defining the term 4 “congenital cytomegalovirus test”; revising newborn 5 hearing screening requirements to require that all 6 newborns, rather than only those who fail the initial 7 newborn hearing screening, be tested for congenital 8 cytomegalovirus; providing an effective date. 9 10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 11 12 Section 1. Present paragraphs (b) through (j) of subsection 13 (2) of section 383.145, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 14 paragraphs (c) through (k), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is 15 added to that subsection, and paragraphs (a) through (e) and 16 present paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of that section are 17 amended, to read: 18 383.145 Newborn and infant hearing screening.— 19 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 20 (b) “Congenital cytomegalovirus test” means a test approved 21 by the United States Food and Drug Administration or another 22 diagnostically equivalent test to screen newborns for congenital 23 cytomegalovirus. 24 (3) REQUIREMENTS FOR SCREENING OF NEWBORNS; INSURANCE 25 COVERAGE; REFERRAL FOR ONGOING SERVICES.— 26 (a) Each hospital or other state-licensed birthing facility 27 that provides maternity and newborn care services shall ensure 28 that all newborns are, before discharge, screened for the 29 detection of hearing loss to prevent the consequences of 30 unidentified disorders.If a newborn fails the screening for the31detection of hearing loss,The hospital or other state-licensed 32 birthing facility must also administer a congenital 33 cytomegalovirus testapproved by the United States Food and Drug34Administration or another diagnostically equivalent teston the 35 newbornto screen for congenital cytomegalovirusbefore the 36 newborn becomes 21 days of age or before discharge, whichever 37 occurs earlier. 38 (b) Each licensed birth center that provides maternity and 39 newborn care services shall ensure that all newborns are, before 40 discharge, referred to an audiologist, a hospital, or another 41 newborn hearing screening provider for screening for the 42 detection of hearing loss to prevent the consequences of 43 unidentified disorders and referred for the administration of a 44 congenital cytomegalovirus test. The referralsreferralfor 45 appointment must be made within 7 days after discharge. Written 46 documentation of the referralsreferralmust be placed in the 47 newborn’s medical chart. 48 (c) If the parent or legal guardian of the newborn objects 49 to the screening or testing, the screening or testing, as 50 applicable, must not be completed. In such case, the physician, 51 midwife, or other person attending the newborn shall maintain a 52 record that the screening or testing has not been performed and 53 attach a written objection that must be signed by the parent or 54 guardian. 55 (d) For home births, the health care provider in attendance 56 is responsible for coordinating the referral of the newborn 57coordination and referralto an audiologist, a hospital, or 58 another newborn hearing screening provider for screening for the 59 detection of hearing loss and for coordinating the referral for 60 administration of a congenital cytomegalovirus test. The health 61 care provider in attendance must make the referralsreferralfor 62 appointment within 7 days after the birth. In cases in which the 63 home birth is not attended by a health care provider, the 64 newborn’s primary health care provider is responsible for 65 coordinating the referralsreferral. 66(e) For home births and births in a licensed birth center,67if a newborn is referred to a newborn hearing screening provider68and the newborn fails the screening for the detection of hearing69loss, the newborn’s primary health care provider must refer the70newborn for administration of a test approved by the United71States Food and Drug Administration or another diagnostically72equivalent test on the newborn to screen for congenital73cytomegalovirus.74 (f)(g)The screening of a newborn’s hearing and 75 administration of a congenital cytomegalovirus test on the 76 newborn must be completed before the newborn is discharged from 77 the hospital. However, if the screening and testing is not 78 completed before discharge due to scheduling or temporary 79 staffing limitations, the screening and testing must be 80 completed within 21 days after the birth. Screenings completed 81 after discharge or performed because of initial screening 82 failure must be completed by an audiologist, a physician, a 83 hospital, or another newborn hearing screening provider. 84 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.