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| SPONSOR: | Rodriguez | DATE TYPED: | 02/1/01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Newborn Hearing Testing Required | SB | 101 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Esquibel | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| N/A | |||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Health did not respond
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
The bill requires that by July 1, 2001, all infants born in Department of Health (DOH) licensed facilities shall be screened for hearing sensitivity. By July 1, 2001, DOH shall promulgate rules regarding how the testing shall be conducted and reported, including notification of parents about the infants' condition.
Significant Issues
SJM24 passed during the 1999 Legislative session initiated a survey of New Mexico hospitals to determine the number of hospitals participating in newborn hearing testing. The survey results revealed 99% of New Mexico hospitals were participating.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The bill appropriates no funds.
All services provided as part of a hospital stay for Medicaid clients, including newborn hearing testing, are reimbursed to the facility through the Medicaid program. Children are eligible for Medicaid when they reside in households with incomes less than 235% of the federal poverty level (185% of the federal poverty level was $30,895 for a family of four in 1999). Additionally, newborn hearing testing services are currently reimbursable under Medicaid when provided to Medicaid clients on an outpatient basis.
The Children's Medical Services program provides services and case management for special needs children for services not covered by Medicaid, and the program administers the Healthier Kids Fund for the provision of medical services for children not eligible for Medicaid. Hearing screening is consistent with these services.
Finally, implementation of the provisions of SB101 would indirectly mandate that hearing screening become a covered benefit for privately-insured or self-pay individuals, or they would have to pay for these services out-of-pocket.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The bill could specify that the appropriation is intended to fund newborn hearing testing for uninsured newborns not eligible for Medicaid.
Additionally, the bill is mandating hospitals provide a service 99% are already providing.
RAE/prr