LRB-2389/1
DAK:cmh:hmh
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
April 29, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman and Coggs,
cosponsored by Senators Burke, Robson, Darling, Risser and Clausing.
Referred to Committee on Health.
AB317,1,2
1An Act to create 20.435 (5) (cr) and 253.115 of the statutes;
relating to: infant
2hearing screening and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires that a hospital, before discharging an infant who was born in
or en route to the hospital or who received care in the hospital shortly after birth, or
before the infant attains the age of three months, provide a hearing screening test
to the infant. If the hearing screening test indicates hearing loss or if the infant was
not successfully tested, the hospital must inform the infant's parent and attending
physician and provide information concerning appropriate follow-up. The hospital
also must refer an infant whose hearing test indicated hearing loss to an audiologist
for a diagnostic evaluation. These requirements do not apply if the infant's parent
submits a written objection to the test or the diagnostic evaluation for reasons of
religion or personal conviction. The bill provides funding from general purpose
revenues for payment of the hearing screening tests for infants who are ineligible for
medical assistance or the health care program for low-income families known as
badger care and for whom coverage of the hearing screening test is not provided
under a disability insurance policy or a self-insured health plan.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB317, s. 1
1Section
1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
2the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
-
See PDF for table 
AB317, s. 2
3Section
2. 20.435 (5) (cr) of the statutes is created to read:
AB317,2,54
20.435
(5) (cr)
Infant hearing screening tests. The amounts in the schedule for
5infant hearing screening tests under s. 253.115 (2).
AB317, s. 3
6Section
3. 253.115 of the statutes is created to read:
AB317,2,8
7253.115 Infant hearing screening and follow-up. (1) Definitions. In this
8section:
AB317,2,99
(a) "Audiologist" has the meaning given in s. 459.20 (1).
AB317,2,1110
(b) "Hearing screening test" means a test to detect hearing thresholds of 30
11decibels or greater in either ear in the speech frequency range.
AB317,2,1212
(c) "Hospital" has the meaning given in s. 50.33 (2).
AB317,2,1313
(d) "Infant" means a child from birth to 3 months of age.
AB317,2,18
14(2) Hearing screening test; requirements. (a) Except as provided in sub. (4),
15before a hospital discharges an infant who was born in or en route to the hospital or
16who received care in the hospital shortly after birth, or before the infant attains the
17age of 3 months, whichever is earlier, the hospital shall provide a hearing screening
18test for the infant.
AB317,3,9
1(b) If a hearing screening test performed on an infant as specified in par. (a)
2indicates hearing loss or if the infant was not successfully tested, the hospital shall
3so notify the infant's parent, guardian or legal custodian and attending physician
4before discharge, if possible, or otherwise within 10 days after discharge. The
5hospital shall provide to the infant's parent, guardian or legal custodian information
6concerning the appropriate follow-up for a hearing screening test that indicated
7hearing loss or for an instance in which the infant was not successfully tested. If the
8infant's hearing screening test indicated hearing loss, the hospital shall refer the
9infant to an audiologist for a diagnostic evaluation.
AB317,3,15
10(3) Hearing screening test; funding. From the appropriation under s. 20.435
11(5) (cr), the department shall provide funds in each fiscal year to pay for the provision,
12by hospitals, of hearing screening tests under sub. (2) (a) for infants who are
13ineligible under s. 49.46, 49.47 or 49.665 and for whom coverage of the hearing
14screening test is not provided under a disability insurance policy or a self-insured
15health plan.
AB317,3,20
16(4) Parental objection. The requirements under sub. (2) do not apply if the
17infant's parent, guardian or legal custodian submits a written statement to the
18hospital objecting to the hearing screening test or to the diagnostic evaluation for
19reasons of religion or personal conviction. The hospital shall place any such
20statement in the medical record of the infant.
AB317,3,2322
(1)
Infant hearing screening tests. This act takes effect on July 1, 1999, or
23on the day after publication of the 1999-2001 biennial budget act, whichever is later.
