FL H0591

Authorizes the State Public Health Laboratory to release results of newborn hearing and metabolic tests directly to the newborn's health care practitioner, defining "health care practitioner" to include physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, midwives, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, dieticians, and nutritionists.

Requires audiologists to ask parents or legal guardians of infants and toddlers diagnosed with permanent hearing impairment if they wish to provide contact information to receive information from qualified Early Steps providers specializing in hearing loss services.

Mandates the Department of Health post a website list of qualified Early Steps providers offering early intervention services for children with hearing loss who have agreed to provide direct communication to interested families.

Requires audiologists or their designees to transmit signed consent forms to listed service providers via secure transmission.

Effective date is July 1, 2014.