FL S0722

Authorizes the State Public Health Laboratory to release newborn hearing and metabolic screening results to a defined list of health care practitioners including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, midwives, and dieticians/nutritionists.

Requires audiologists to offer parents or legal guardians of infants and toddlers diagnosed with permanent hearing impairment the opportunity to authorize release of contact information to Early Steps providers specializing in hearing loss services.

Directs the Department of Health to maintain and post a website list of qualified Early Steps providers offering early intervention services for children with hearing loss who have requested to communicate directly with families.

Requires audiologists or their designee to send signed consent forms via secure transmission to listed Early Steps providers when parents authorize release of their contact information.

Updates cross-references to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Part C) and changes terminology from "must" to "shall" in existing hearing impairment referral requirements; effective July 1, 2014.