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 with hearing loss.

• Updates terminology throughout the statute by replacing "hearing-impaired" with "deaf or hard of hearing" and clarifies definitions for audiologists, diagnostic audiologic evaluations, and hearing screening.

• Requires audiologists and physicians specialized in hearing function to report diagnostic audiologic evaluation results as determined by the department.

• Modifies the department of health's duties to establish a statewide system for hearing screening and diagnostic audiologic evaluation to identify and refer infants who are deaf or hard of hearing to early intervention services.

• Effective date: July 1, 2019.