Connecticut General Statutes Title 19A. Public Health and Well-Being § 19a-59. Program to identify infants who are hard of hearing

(a) Each institution, as defined in section 19a-490, that provides childbirth service shall, not later than July 1, 2000, include a universal newborn hearing screening program as part of its standard of care and shall establish a mechanism for compliance review. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any infant whose parents object to hearing screening as being in conflict with their religious tenets and practice.

(b) The Department of Public Health shall establish a plan to implement and operate a program of early identification of infants who are hard of hearing. The purpose of such plan shall be to: (1) Identify infants at high risk of having hearing impairments; (2) notify parents of such infants of the risk; (3) inform parents of resources available to them for further testing and treatment, including rehabilitation services for such infants; and (4) inform parents of financial assistance available through the Department of Public Health, including, but not limited to, parental eligibility criteria, which may result in reduced cost or no cost to parents for testing, evaluation or treatment, including rehabilitation of such infants. The department shall develop such plan in consultation with persons including, but not limited to, pediatricians, otolaryngologists, audiologists, educators and parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

(c) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54,  1 to implement the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.