Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 336, Sec. 2. (AB 1731) Effective January 1, 2013.
For purposes of this article, “CCHD” means critical congenital heart disease.
Article 6.6 - Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening Program
California Health and Safety Code — §§ 124121-124122
Sections (2)
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 336, Sec. 2. (AB 1731) Effective January 1, 2013.
(a)(1) Beginning July 1, 2013, a general acute care hospital that has a licensed perinatal service shall offer to parents of a newborn, prior to discharge, a pulse oximetry test for the identification of CCHD.
(2)The State Department of Health Care Services shall issue guidance stating that hospitals perform this test in a manner consistent with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for CCHD screening.
(3)A hospital described in paragraph (1) shall be responsible for developing a screening program that provides competent CCHD screening,
utilizes appropriate staff and equipment for administering the testing, completes the testing prior to the newborn’s discharge from a newborn nursery unit, refers infants with abnormal screening results for appropriate care, maintains and reports data as required by the department, and provides physician and family-parent education.
(b)A pulse oximetry test provided for pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be performed by a licensed physician, licensed registered nurse, or an appropriately trained individual who is supervised in the performance of the test by a licensed health care professional.
(c)This section shall not apply to a newborn whose parent or guardian objects to the test on the grounds that the test is in violation of his or her beliefs.