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91_HB0596enr
HB0596 Enrolled LRB9102397SMpr
1 AN ACT regarding hearing screening for newborns.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Hearing Screening for Newborns Act.
6 Section 5. Mandatory hearing screening. By December 31,
7 2002, all hospitals performing deliveries shall conduct
8 hearing screening of all newborn infants prior to discharge.
9 Section 10. Reports to Department of Public Health.
10 Hospitals shall report information about each child with a
11 positive hearing screening result to the Illinois Department
12 of Public Health.
13 Section 15. Department of Public Health to maintain
14 registry of cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health
15 shall maintain a registry of cases of positive hearing
16 screening results, including information needed for the
17 purpose of follow-up services.
18 Section 20. Hearing screening advisory committee. By
19 July 1, 2000, the Department of Human Services shall organize
20 an advisory committee including representatives from the
21 Department of Public Health, the University of Illinois
22 Division of Specialized Care for Children, public and private
23 hospitals, pediatric associations, audiologists, health
24 insurance plans, hearing-impaired persons, parents of
25 hearing-impaired children, and early intervention services.
26 The committee shall:
27 (a) Develop and conduct training for hospitals
28 implementing newborn hearing screening.
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1 (b) Develop a tracking and follow-up program for
2 diagnostic hearing testing for those infants failing
3 hospital-based screening, in order to diagnose congenital
4 hearing loss.
5 (c) Develop a referral system to early intervention
6 services and hearing aids for those infants diagnosed with
7 hearing loss.
8 (d) Develop an application process for financial
9 assistance by the Division of Specialized Care for Children
10 for follow-up diagnostic hearing testing of newborns failing
11 hospital-based screening.
12 (e) Develop educational and informational materials for
13 hospital personnel, health care professionals, and parents on
14 appropriate follow-up procedures for infants failing
15 hospital-based screening.
16 (f) Monitor any reports made available to the State with
17 respect to the hearing screening status of all newborns.
18 (g) Monitor the availability of third party reimbursement
19 for universal hospital-based hearing screening of newborn
20 infants.
21 (h) Review administrative rules and make recommendations
22 to the Department regarding such rules.
23 Section 25. Objections to test. The provisions of this
24 Act shall not apply when the parent or guardian of the
25 newborn infant objects to hearing screening on the grounds
26 that the screening conflicts with his or her religious
27 beliefs and practices. A written statement of the objection
28 shall be presented to the physician or other person whose
29 duty it is to administer and report the screening under the
30 provisions of this Act.
31 Section 30. Rules. The Department of Human Services
32 shall promulgate rules necessary to implement this Act.
HB0596 Enrolled -3- LRB9102397SMpr
1 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2 becoming law.
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