| Connecticut Summary of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Legislation |
| Issue |
Excerpts from Legislation/Rules & Regulations |
| Year Passed |
|
HB 8007 (Year 1997)
(Rules) |
Full
Implementation by: |
July 1, 2000 |
Statute: Sec. 9. Section 19a-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: (a) EACH INSTITUTION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 19a-490, THAT PROVIDES CHILDBIRTH SERVICE SHALL, NOT LATER THAN JULY 1, 2000, INCLUDE A UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM AS PART OF ITS STANDARD OF CARE AND SHALL ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR COMPLIANCE REVIEW.
Source: HB 8007, amended in 1999
|
Requires
Screening of: |
All Babies |
Statute: Sec. 9. Section 19a-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: (a) EACH INSTITUTION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 19a-490, THAT PROVIDES CHILDBIRTH SERVICE SHALL, NOT LATER THAN JULY 1, 2000, INCLUDE A UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM AS PART OF ITS STANDARD OF CARE AND SHALL ESTABLISH A MECHANISM FOR COMPLIANCE REVIEW.
Source: HB 8007, amended in 1999
|
Advisory Committee
Established? |
|
|
| Covered Benefit of Health Insurance? |
Yes |
Statute: Hearing Aid Legislation [PDF]
Sec. 15. (NEW) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state on or after October 1, 2001, shall provide coverage for hearing aids for children twelve years of age or younger. Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four month period.
Sec. 16. (NEW) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 of the general statutes delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state on or after October 1, 2001, shall provide coverage for hearing aids for children twelve years of age or younger. Such hearing aids shall be considered durable medical equipment under the policy and the policy may limit the hearing aid benefit to one thousand dollars within a twenty-four month period.
Source: HB 8007 (Year 1997) amended in 1999
|
Report to
State DOH |
|
|
Provision of
Educational
Materials? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 9. … [(a)] (b) The Department of Public Health shall establish a plan to implement and operate a program of early identification of infant hearing impairment. The purpose of such plan shall be to:(1) Identify infants at high risk of having hearing impairments; (2) notify parents of such infants of the risk; (3) inform parents of resources available to them for further testing and treatment, including rehabilitation services for such infants, and (4) inform parents of financial assistance available through the Department of Public Health, including, but not limited to, parental eligibility criteria, which may result in reduced cost or no cost to parents for testing, evaluation or treatment, including rehabilitation of such infants.
Source: HB 8007, 1997
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| Informed Consent by Parents? |
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| Liability Immunity? |
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| Parental Objection Exclusion? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 9. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any infant whose parents object to hearing screening as being in conflict with their religious tenets and practice.
Source: HB 8007, 1997
Rules: (b) A parent who refuses to allow his or her infant to be screened for a hearing impairment based upon religious tenets and practice shall sign a statement attesting to said refusal which shall include a statement by a licensed health care provider that the parent was informed of the medical consequences of such refusal. The document shall identify the specific reasons for the refusal and shall be placed in the infant's medical record. If a parent declines to sign the refusal statement, the institution shall document in the infant's medical record the reason for the refusal by the parent to permit newborn hearing screening and a statement that the parent refused to sign the document and was informed of the medical consequences of such refusal.
Source: Rules (June 18 Special Session, PUBLIC ACT NO. 97-8)
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