§ 23-13-13. Testing for hearing impairments.
(a) It is declared to be the public policy of this state that every newborn infant be
evaluated by procedures approved by the state department of health for the detection
of hearing impairments, in order to prevent many of the consequences of these disorders.
No hearing impairment test shall be made as to any newborn infant if the parents of
that child object to the test on the grounds that a hearing impairment test would
conflict with their religious tenets or practices.
(b) The physician attending a newborn child shall cause the child to be subject to hearing
impairment tests as described in department of health regulations.
(c) In addition, the department of health is authorized to establish by rules and regulations
a reasonable fee structure for hearing impairment testing to cover program costs not
otherwise covered by federal grant funds specifically secured for this purpose. This
testing shall be a covered benefit reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined
in § 27-38.2-2(1) except for supplemental policies that only provide coverage for specific diseases,
hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or other supplemental policies. The department
of human services shall pay for hearing impairment testing when the patient is eligible
for medical assistance under the provisions of chapter 8 of title 40. In the absence of a third party payor the charges for hearing impairment testing
shall be paid by the hospital or other health care facility where the birth occurred.
Nothing in this section shall preclude the hospital or health care facility from billing
the patient directly. Those fees shall be deposited into a restricted receipt account
entitled the "newborn screening account�.
(d) There is created a hearing impairments testing advisory committee which shall advise
the director of the department of health regarding the validity and cost of testing
procedures. That advisory committee shall:
(1) Meet at least four (4) times per year;
(2) Be chaired by the director or his or her designee;
(3) Be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the director from the following professions
or organizations:
(i) A representative of the health insurance industry;
(ii) A pediatrician, designated by the R.I. chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;
(iii) An audiologist, designated by the R.I. chapter of the American Speech and Hearing
Association;
(iv) Two (2) representatives of hospital neonatal nurseries;
(v) A representative of special education designated by the department of elementary and
secondary education; and
(vi) The director of health or his or her designee.