(a) The department shall develop and implement a reporting and tracking system for newborns and infants tested for hearing loss.
(b) The system shall provide the department with information and data to effectively plan, establish, monitor, and evaluate the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening, Tracking and Intervention Program, including the screening and followup components, as well as the comprehensive system of services for newborns and infants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their families.
(c) Every general acute care hospital with licensed perinatal services, or NICU in this state shall report to the department or the department’s designee information as specified by the department to be included in the department’s reporting and tracking system.
(d) All providers of audiological followup and diagnostic services provided under this article shall report to the department or the department’s designee information as specified by the department to be included in the department’s reporting and tracking system.
(e) The information compiled and maintained in the tracking system shall be kept confidential in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 10850) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), and the applicable requirements and provisions of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1475 et seq.).
(f) Data collected by the tracking system obtained directly from the medical records of the newborn or infant shall be for the confidential use of the department and for the persons or public or private entities that the department determines are necessary to carry out the intent of the reporting and tracking system.
(g) A health facility, clinical laboratory, audiologist, physician, registered nurse, or any other officer or employee of a health facility or laboratory or employee of an audiologist or physician, shall not be criminally or civilly liable for furnishing information to the department or its designee pursuant to the requirements of this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 335, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007. Operative January 1, 2008, by Sec. 5 of Ch. 335.)