SF 473

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 04/02/2013 12:41pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring screening of newborns for critical congenital heart
disease; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[144.1251] NEWBORN SCREENING FOR CRITICAL CONGENITAL
HEART DISEASE (CCHD).

Subdivision 1.

Required testing and reporting.

Each licensed hospital or
state-licensed birthing center or facility that provides maternity and newborn care services
shall provide screening for congenital heart disease to all newborns prior to discharge
using pulse oximetry screening. This screening should occur before discharge from the
nursery, after the infant turns 24 hours of age. If discharge prior to 24 hours after birth
occurs, screening should occur as close as possible to the time of discharge. Results of this
screening must be reported to the Department of Health.

For premature infants (less than 36 weeks of gestation) and infants admitted to a
higher-level nursery (special care or intensive care), pulse oximetry should be performed
when medically appropriate, but always prior to discharge.

Subd. 2.

Implementation.

The Department of Health shall be responsible for:

(1) communicating the screening protocol and requirements and providing
educational materials for hospitals, health care providers, birthing centers or facilities,
parents of newborns, and the public;

(2) providing training to ensure compliance with and appropriate implementation of
the screening;

(3) establishing the mechanism for the required data collection and reporting of
screening and follow-up diagnostic results to the Department of Health according to the
Department of Health's recommendations, and the establishment of a CCHD registry;

(4) coordinating the implementation of universal standardized screening; and

(5) acting as a resource for providers as the screening program is implemented,
and in consultation with the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee, developing and
implementing policies for early medical and developmental intervention services and
long-term follow-up services for children and their families identified with a CCHD, up
to 18 years of age.