§ 25-4-1002 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 25-4-1002

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Disease Control

Text

(1) The general assembly hereby finds
and declares that:

(a) Recent newborn screening innovations are considered among the
greatest public health achievements of the twenty-first century;

(b) Scientific research has demonstrated that newborn screening not only
saves lives and improves developmental outcomes but also contributes to cost
savings for families, health-care systems, and the state;

(c) Newborn screening includes conditions for which diagnosis and
treatment must be implemented in a timely manner in order to achieve maximum
benefit for the child;

(d) Newborn screening is an appropriate public health function to provide
necessary educational services to health-care providers, families, and communities
so that appropriate resources and information are available;

(e) Newborn screening is a public health function that identifies newborns at
risk of certain conditions or hearing loss, as well as newborns who do not receive
screening, and appropriately connects them to care;

(f) An effective newborn screening program is dependent upon a strong
system of education and coordination among primary care providers, hospitals,
specialty care providers, patient and family support organizations, public health
laboratory staff, and public health professionals;

(g) State policy regarding newborn screening and genetic counseling and
education should be made with full public knowledge, in light of expert opinion, and
should be constantly reviewed to consider changing medical knowledge and ensure
full public protection;

(h) Participation of persons in newborn screening programs or genetic
counseling programs in this state should be wholly voluntary, and all information
obtained from persons involved in these programs in the state must be held strictly
confidential. Family participation in the follow-up support and assistance services is
voluntary.

(i) Hearing loss occurs in newborn infants more frequently than any other
health condition for which newborn infant screening is required;

(j) Eighty percent of the language ability of a child is established by the time
the child is eighteen months of age, and it is vitally important to support the healthy
development of language skills;

(k) Early detection, early intervention, and treatment of hearing loss in a
child are highly effective in facilitating a child's healthy development in a manner
consistent with the child's age and cognitive ability;

(l) Children with hearing loss who do not receive early intervention and
treatment frequently require special educational services, which, for the vast
majority of children in the state with hearing needs, are publicly funded; and

(m) Appropriate testing and identification of newborn infants with hearing
loss will facilitate early intervention and treatment and will therefore serve the
public purposes of promoting the healthy development of children and reducing the
need for additional public expenditures.

Legislative History

Source: L. 81: Entire part added, p. 1300, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2018: Entire section amended, (HB 18-1006), ch. 368, p. 2212, � 2, effective July 1.