| Maine Summary of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Legislation |
| Issue |
Excerpts from Legislation/Rules & Regulations |
| Year Passed |
1999 |
LD1814 (Year 1999) |
Full
Implementation by: |
November 1, 2001 |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8821. Sec. 3. Screening. By November 1, 2001, newborn hearing screening must be conducted on no less than 85% of newborns born in hospitals in the State on birth admission.
Source: LD 1814, 1999
|
Requires
Screening of: |
>85% |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8821. Sec. 3. Screening. By November 1, 2001, newborn hearing screening must be conducted on no less than 85% of newborns born in hospitals in the State on birth admission.
Source: LD 1814, 1999
|
Advisory Committee
Established? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8823. Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board. The Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board, as established in Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 14-C, is created to provide oversight and advice on the program. The department shall provide administrative support services required by the board.
Source: LD 1814, 1999
|
| Covered Benefit of Health Insurance? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 4. 24 MRSA '2319-A is enacted to read: " '2319-A. Newborn hearing services. All individual and group nonprofit hospital and medical service organization contracts must provide that benefits are payable with respect to newborn children hearing screening, evaluation, treatment and intervention services under Title 22, chapter 1687 and necessary audiologic diagnostic follow-up care related to hearing. Newborn hearing screening may not be subject to a deductible or copayment. Other newborn children hearing services may be subject to the same deductibles and copayments that are applicable to other health care services."
Sec. 5. 24-A MRSA '2743-B is enacted to read: "'2743-B. Newborn hearing services. Individual health insurance policies must provide benefits for newborn hearing screening, evaluation, treatment and intervention services under Title 22, chapter 1687 and necessary audiologic diagnostic follow-up care related to hearing. Newborn children hearing screening benefits may not be subject to a deductible or copayment. Other newborn children hearing services benefits may be subject to the same deductibles and copayments that are applicable to other health care services benefits."
Sec. 6. 24-A MRSA '2843-A is enacted to read: "'2843-A. Newborn hearing services. Group health policies providing coverage for medical and surgical benefits, except accidental injury, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care and other limited benefit health insurance policies and contracts, must provide benefits for newborn children hearing screening, evaluation, treatment and intervention services under Title 22, chapter 1687 and necessary audiologic diagnostic follow-up care related to hearing. Newborn hearing screening benefits may not be subject to a deductible or copayment. Other newborn children hearing services benefits may be subject to the same deductibles and copayments that are applicable to other health care services benefits."
Sec. 7. 24-A MRSA '4234-F is enacted to read: "'4234-F. Newborn hearing services. Individual and group health maintenance organization contracts must provide benefits for newborn children hearing screening, evaluation, treatment and intervention services under Title 22, chapter 1687 and necessary audiologic diagnostic follow-up care related to hearing. Newborn hearing screening benefits may not be subject to a deductible or copayment. Other newborn hearing services benefits may be subject to the same deductibles and copayments that are applicable to other health care services benefits."
Source: LD 1814, 1999
|
Report to
State DOH |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8822. 5. Reporting. Beginning January 1, 2002, every hospital and other location providing birthing services shall report annually to the board concerning the following: A. The number of newborns born in the hospital of location; B. The number of newborns screened on birth admission; C. The number of newborns who passed the birth admission screening; D. The number of newborns who did not pass the birth admission screening; E. The number of newborns and infants who participated in follow-up rescreening; F. The number of newborns and infants who passed the follow-up rescreening; G. The number of newborns recommended for monitoring, intervention and follow-up care; H. The number of newborns and infants recommended for diagnostic audiologic evaluation; and I. The number of parents whose parents declined screening.
Source: LD 1814, Chapter 1687, 1999
|
Provision of
Educational
Materials? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8822. 1. Beginning November 1, 1999, a hospital shall provide information to the parents of newborns born in the hospital of the importance of screening the hearing of newborns, and of receiving follow-up care. The information must explain the process of hearing screening, the likelihood of a child having a hearing loss, follow-up procedures and community resources and must include a description of the normal auditory, speech and language development process in children. 2. Information to parents of children born outside of hospitals. By November 1, 2001, when a newborn is delivered in a facility other than a hospital, the department shall provide information to the parents on the merits of having the hearing screening performed and on the availability of hearing screening within 3 months of the date of birth.
Source: LD 1814, 1999
|
| Informed Consent by Parents? |
|
|
| Liability Immunity? |
Yes |
Statute: Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1687 is enacted to read: ... §8824. 3. Persons reporting information in good faith in compliance with this chapter are immune from civil liability.
Source: LD 1814, 1999
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| Parental Objection Exclusion? |
|
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