HB 1548 -- HEARING SCREENING FOR NEWBORNS

SPONSOR:  Barry

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Children Families and Health by a vote of 8 to 0.

This bill revises a provision pertaining to hearing screening for
newborns.

Effective January 1, 2002, any facility which transfers a newborn
to a different facility for further acute care prior to the
completion of the newborn hearing screening is required to notify
the receiving facility of the current status of the hearing
screening.  If the hearing screening is incomplete, the receiving
facility is responsible for completing the hearing screening for
newborns.

Currently, hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers are required
to perform the hearing screening for newborns delivered in their
facilities prior to discharge.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the current hearing screening
program has been very successful in Missouri.  Over 5,200
newborns have been screened for hearing loss under the program.
The bill provides a clarification in the statute by requiring a
receiving facility to complete the newborn hearing screening test
when a newborn is transferred to the facility.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Barry; Department of
Health and Senior Services; and Missouri Hospital Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:01 am