HB 678 Summary

• Amends Hawaii's newborn hearing screening statute to require reporting of diagnostic audiologic evaluation results to the department of health to improve follow-up care for infants identified with hearing loss.

• Updates terminology throughout the statute from "hearing-impaired" to "deaf or hard of hearing" and adds new definitions for "audiologist," "diagnostic audiologic evaluation," and "hearing screening."

• Expands the department's duties to establish a statewide system for hearing screening, diagnostic evaluation, and referral to early intervention services for infants who are deaf or hard of hearing or at risk for delayed-onset or progressive hearing loss.

• Requires audiologists and physicians specialized in hearing function to report diagnostic audiologic evaluation results as determined by the department, in addition to existing requirements for birthing facilities to report newborn hearing screening results.

• Effective date: July 1, 2019.