44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING INFORMATION ON THE ADVISABILITY OF REQUIRING NEWBORN HEARING TESTING.

WHEREAS, six of every one thousand new babies are born with a hearing loss; and

WHEREAS, children with an undetected hearing loss experience significant developmental delays; and

WHEREAS, without screening, the average age of hearing loss detection is age two and one-half; and

WHEREAS, many but not all hospitals routinely perform a universal newborn hearing screening; and

WHEREAS, the state has a responsibility to ensure by every means possible the healthy growth of all of our children;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, with the cooperation of the commission for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, develop a factual assessment of the current newborn hearing screening practices throughout New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in so doing, statewide hospital representatives, medical practitioners, audiologists, early intervention specialists, members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and other health consumers and the health insurance industry be consulted; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the financial impact of requiring newborn hearing testing, including available funding resources, be assessed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that practices and statutes of other states be taken into consideration; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the results of this assessment, together with any recommendations for legislation, be presented to the governor and to the legislative health and human services committee by September 1, 1999; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be delivered to the department of health and the commission for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.