(a)

1. (1) Beginning July 1, 2000, every birthing hospital in this state with more than fifty (50) births per year shall provide or arrange for a bilateral physiological hearing screening on each birth admission.
2. (2) Hospitals with fifty (50) or fewer births per year that elect to provide bilateral physiological hearing screenings are subject to the provisions set forth in this part.

(b) Birthing hospitals.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Each hospital shall designate a person to be responsible for the newborn hearing screening program in that facility.
   2. (B) This person will act as the single point of contact between the facility and the Department of Health Infant Hearing Program.
   3. (C) It is the responsibility of the facility to ensure that all screening personnel are appropriately trained to carry out the newborn hearing screening using appropriate technology.
   4. (D) The hospital will communicate with a licensed audiologist with appropriate training and experience to advise the hospital about all aspects of the newborn hearing screening program, including:

(i) Screening;

1. (ii) Tracking; and

   1. (iii) Follow-up.
   2. (E) For hospitals that do not have access to audiologic personnel, the Department of Health can provide the names of audiologists with experience in newborn hearing screening.
   3. (F) Furthermore, each birthing hospital shall develop a quality/performance improvement component to ensure compliance with this part.
2. (2) Each hospital shall make a reasonable effort, prior to discharge, to rescreen newborns who do not pass the initial screening.
3. (3) Each hospital shall forward test results on a screening report to the Department of Health by the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which the test was conducted.
4. (4) Each hospital shall disseminate written information provided by the Department of Health to the parent prior to discharge, including locations at which audiological follow-up care and follow-up screening can be obtained by the parent or guardian of the newborn and infant.
5. (5) Each hospital shall provide written results of the initial hearing screening or parent refusal to the child's primary care physician within fourteen (14) days of discharge.
6. (6) If the newborn is transferred to another institution before screening is completed, the receiving institution must provide hearing screening services as required by this part prior to discharge.

7. (7) Each hospital shall calibrate the hearing screening equipment:

   1. (A) On at least an annual basis; or
   2. (B) As recommended by manufacturer guidelines.

8. (8) Each hospital shall report to the Department of Health on an annual basis on July 1, and to amend any information within thirty (30) days of a change, the following:

   1. (A) The name of the person designated as the single point of contact;
   2. (B) The name of the advising audiologist;
   3. (C) Equipment utilized;
   4. (D) Equipment calibration records;

   5. (E) Whether the hearing screening program is:

      1. (i) Conducted with hospital personnel; or
      2. (ii) Contracted to an outside entity;
   6. (F) The name of persons providing staff training on the equipment;
   7. (G) The name or names of persons competent to perform hearing screenings within the hospital;
   8. (H) Screening protocols;
   9. (I) Test procedures used by the facility's newborn hearing screening program;
   10. (J) Pass criteria that minimally meet guidelines established by the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Tracking, and Intervention Advisory Board; and

   11. (K)

       1. (i) A description of the quality/performance improvement program.
       2. (ii) The reporting form shall be provided to hospitals by the Department of Health.
       3. (c) Department of Health. The Department of Health shall:
9. (1) Provide information and technical assistance to birthing hospitals;
10. (2) Provide information and data to the board; and

11. (3) Collaborate with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to coordinate early educational and rehabilitative services for newborns and infants identified with hearing loss.

    1. (d) Providers and physicians. If a provider or physician is administering a follow-up screening or diagnostic evaluation, they shall forward test results to the Department of Health by the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which the test was conducted.