| Pennsylvania Summary of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Legislation |
| Issue |
Excerpts from Legislation/Rules & Regulations |
| Year Passed |
2001 |
SB No. 100 (Year 2001) |
Full
Implementation by: |
July 1, 2003 |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec. 5, (d) “… The program shall be implemented as follows: (1) By July 1, 2003, newborn and infant hearing screening is to be conducted on no fewer than 85% of the live births in health care facilities in this Commonwealth during birth admissions, using procedures recommended by the department's advisory committee...”
Source: SB No. 100, 2001
|
Requires
Screening of: |
85% of newborns |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec. 5, (d) “… The program shall be implemented as follows: (1) By July 1, 2003, newborn and infant hearing screening is to be conducted on no fewer than 85% of the live births in health care facilities in this Commonwealth during birth admissions, using procedures recommended by the department's advisory committee...”
Source: SB No. 100, 2001
|
Advisory Committee
Established? |
Yes |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec. 4, “… The secretary shall appoint a six-member Infant Hearing Screening Advisory Committee within the department. The advisory committee shall advise and make recommendations on issues relating to, but not limited to, program regulation and administration, diagnostic testing, technical support and follow-up. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary travel and other expenses in accordance with applicable law and regulations...”
Source: SB No. 100, 2001
|
| Covered Benefit of Health Insurance? |
|
|
Report to
State DOH |
Yes |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec.5, (d), (4), “... By July 1, 2002, every hospital in this Commonwealth shall report to the department, in a manner prescribed by the department, the number of newborns and infants screened and the results of the screening...”
Source: SB 100, 2001
|
Provision of
Educational
Materials? |
Yes |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec.5, (d), (3), “...By July 1, 2002, every health care facility in this Commonwealth shall provide information and instruct the parents of newborns and infants concerning the importance of screening the hearing of newborns and infants and of receiving follow-up care. An informational packet developed and supplied by the department shall explain in lay terms the importance and process of hearing screening, the likelihood of a newborn or infant having hearing loss, follow-up procedures and available early intervention services. The educational information shall also include a description of the normal auditory, speech and language developmental process in children. This information shall not preclude the health care facility from providing additional material nor shall it be considered a substitute for the hearing screening...”
Source: SB No. 100, 2001
|
| Informed Consent by Parents? |
|
|
| Liability Immunity? |
Yes |
Statute: SB No. 100, Sec.7, (c), “...Any person who acts in good faith in complying with the provisions of this section by reporting newborn and infant hearing screening results to the department shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for furnishing the information required by this act...”
Source: SB No. 100, 2001
|
| Parental Objection Exclusion? |
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|
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