newborn screening program

SB 1344 requires Arizona hospitals to screen newborns for specific congenital disorders and hearing loss, reporting results to the state Department of Health Services. The law establishes a statewide newborn screening program that includes all conditions on the federal recommended screening panel, maintains a confidential database of results, and provides follow-up services to connect families with care if issues are detected. It defines "newborn" as infants under 28 days and "infant" as up to two years old, and mandates health insurers to adjust hospital rates to cover screening costs. The program also creates an annual advisory committee to review screening best practices.