Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 191
Health and Welfare
←191.925
Section 191.928.1
191.931→
August 28, 2015
Surveillance and monitoring system for certain newborns--standards and follow-up procedure--confidentiality of information.
191.928. 1. The department of health and senior services shall establish
and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and monitoring system
for newborns who have been reported with possible hearing loss for the purpose
of confirming the presence or absence of hearing loss, and referring those
with hearing loss for early intervention services.
2. The department of health and senior services shall establish standards
and follow-up procedures for all newborns reported with possible hearing loss
pursuant to the provisions of section 191.925, as necessary to assure
appropriate and timely diagnosis of hearing loss, delivery of amplification,
and referral for early intervention services. Such standards and procedures
shall include:
(1) Rescreening;
(2) Diagnostic audiological assessment;
(3) Individuals qualified to administer rescreening and diagnostic
audiological assessment;
(4) Time lines for administering rescreening and diagnostic pediatric
audiological assessment; and
(5) Time lines and content of contacts to be made by the surveillance
and monitoring system.
3. The results of rescreening and diagnostic audiological assessment
procedures shall be reported to the department of health and senior services
in a manner prescribed by the department. Any person who acts in good faith
in complying with this section in reporting rescreening or diagnostic
audiological assessment procedures to the department of health and senior
services, or the parents or guardians of a newborn shall not be civilly or
criminally liable for furnishing the information required by this section.
4. Any newborn with a confirmed hearing loss in the surveillance and
monitoring system shall be referred to the appropriate point of contact for
the Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) system
of early intervention services (First Steps) and shall be reported to the
Missouri commission for the deaf and hard of hearing for census purposes.
5. Except as provided in this section, the information contained in the
surveillance and monitoring system shall be confidential and shall not be
divulged or made public in a manner that discloses the identity of an
individual. The department of health and senior services may disclose and
exchange such information as is necessary to provide follow-up services for
newborns identified with hearing loss to the following persons without a
parent's or guardian's written release:
(1) Employees of public agencies, departments and political subdivisions
who need to know such information to carry out their public duties; or
(2) Health care professionals or their agents who undertake the
pediatric care of the newborn.
If any person discloses such information for any other purposes, such person
is guilty of an unauthorized release of confidential information and the
person who discloses is liable for civil damages.
(L. 1999 H.B. 401 § 191.253, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1783)
1999
1999
191.928. 1. The department of health and senior services shall
establish and maintain a newborn hearing screening surveillance and monitoring
system for newborns who have been reported with possible hearing loss for the
purpose of confirming the presence or absence of hearing loss, and referring
those with hearing loss for early intervention services.
2. The department of health and senior services shall establish
standards and follow-up procedures for all newborns reported with possible
hearing loss pursuant to the provisions of section 191.925, as necessary to
assure appropriate and timely diagnosis of hearing loss, delivery of
amplification, and referral for early intervention services. Such standards
and procedures shall include:
(1) Rescreening;
(2) Diagnostic audiological assessment;
(3) Individuals qualified to administer rescreening and diagnostic
audiological assessment;
(4) Time lines for administering rescreening and diagnostic pediatric
audiological assessment; and
(5) Time lines and content of contacts to be made by the surveillance
and monitoring system.
3. The results of rescreening and diagnostic audiological assessment
procedures shall be reported to the department of health and senior services
in a manner prescribed by the department. Any person who acts in good faith
in complying with this section in reporting rescreening or diagnostic
audiological assessment procedures to the department of health and senior
services, or the parents or guardians of a newborn shall not be civilly or
criminally liable for furnishing the information required by this section.
4. Any newborn with a confirmed hearing loss in the surveillance and
monitoring system shall be referred to the appropriate point of contact for
the Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) system of
early intervention services (First Steps) and shall be reported to the
Missouri commission for the deaf for census purposes.
5. Except as provided in this section, the information contained in the
surveillance and monitoring system shall be confidential and shall not be
divulged or made public in a manner that discloses the identity of an
individual. The department of health and senior services may disclose and
exchange such information as is necessary to provide follow-up services for
newborns identified with hearing loss to the following persons without a
parent's or guardian's written release:
(1) Employees of public agencies, departments and political subdivisions
who need to know such information to carry out their public duties; or
(2) Health care professionals or their agents who undertake the
pediatric care of the newborn.
If any person discloses such information for any other purposes, such person
is guilty of an unauthorized release of confidential information and the
person who discloses is liable for civil damages.
Top
Missouri General Assembly
Copyright © Missouri Legislature, all rights reserved.
