HB 18-1006

HB 18-1006, also known as the Infant Newborn Screening bill, updates Colorado’s newborn screening program by requiring quicker hearing tests for babies. It allows the state health department to charge fees for these screenings and follow-up care, and it sets up a fund to cover the costs of the program. The bill also mandates that healthcare providers report relevant information about newborns to the health department and requires the department to create educational materials on certain conditions like cytomegalovirus. Since the status is "signed," this means the bill has been approved by both houses of the legislature and signed into law by the governor, making these changes official.

Official Summary

The bill updates the current newborn screening program to require more timely newborn hearing screenings. The department of public health and environment (department) is authorized to assess a fee for newborn screening and necessary follow-up services. The bill creates the newborn hearing screening cash fund for the purpose of covering the costs of the program. The bill requires the state board of health to promulgate rules: Concerning the requirements of the newborn screening program for genetic and metabolic disorders; Requiring entities with information pertinent to newborn screening to report to the department; and To establish and maintain appropriate follow-up services for newborns at risk of hearing loss and newborns who fail to receive screening. The bill requires the department to develop and publish materials on its website for education and training on cytomegalovirus. The bill appropriates money to the department from: The information technology cash fund for use by the center for health and environmental data for an information and technology system for hearing loss screening; The newborn screening and genetic counseling cash fund for use by the laboratory services division; and The newborn hearing screening cash fund for use by the center for health and environmental data.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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