FL H1163

Creates Section 383.146 of Florida Statutes to establish mandatory newborn screening for adrenoleukodystrophy, an inherited central nervous system disease characterized by blindness, deafness, tonic spasms, and mental deterioration.

Requires hospitals to conduct screening within 24 hours after birth and before discharge; requires birth centers and home birth providers to refer newborns to physicians or hospitals for screening within 24 hours after birth and before discharge.

Mandates hospitals designate a lead physician and birth centers designate a licensed health care provider responsible for programmatic oversight of screening implementation and referral completion.

Establishes that the screening procedure is a covered benefit under Medicaid paid supplemental to per diem rates for MediPass and fee-for-service patients, reimbursed directly at Medicaid rates for HMO patients, and required to be covered by health insurance policies and health maintenance organizations under specified Florida statutes.

Allows parents or legal guardians to object to screening by providing written signed objection, which must be documented in the newborn's medical record; effective July 1, 2014.