Article 6.6. Newborn Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening Program of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 106. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 6.6.
For purposes of this article, "CCHD" means critical
congenital heart disease.
(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.