(a) As used in this section, “birthing facility” means an inpatient or ambulatory healthcare facility licensed by the Department of Health that provides birthing services or newborn care services, or both.
(b) Birthing facilities shall begin pulse oximetry testing for critical congenital heart defects on all newborns before discharge from the birthing facility no fewer than ninety (90) days and no more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Department of Health complies with subsection (d) of this section.
(c) To facilitate pulse oximetry testing for critical congenital heart defects on all newborns in the State of Arkansas before discharge from a birthing facility, Arkansas Children's Hospital shall:
(1) Provide written guidance on evidence-based guidelines on development of hospital policies and procedures related to pulse oximetry screening in newborns to the Department of Health and, on request, to an individual birthing facility;
(2) Provide the Department of Health with an educational document that may be distributed to parents or legal guardians of newborns regarding:
(A) The need for and performance of the pulse oximetry test;
(B) Methods for conducting the screening; and
(C) Common strategies for follow-up care in infants with abnormal screening results; and
(3) Through its Department of Pediatrics, provide to a birthing facility training and on-site technical assistance upon request in the performance of pulse oximetry testing.
(d) To facilitate pulse oximetry testing for critical congenital heart defects on all newborns in the State of Arkansas before discharge from a birthing facility, the Department of Health shall:
(1) Develop an appropriate and functional system allowing for electronic submission of pulse oximetry test results by the hospital; and
(2) Provide technical assistance and training to the birthing facilities on the use of the system.
(e) Testing results submitted to and compiled by the Department of Health under this section are confidential and are not subject to examination or disclosure as public information under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.
(f) The Department of Health shall not require the performance of a pulse oximetry test on a newborn if the parents or a legal guardian of the newborn object to the testing on medical, religious, or philosophical grounds.