(1) At the time that an audiologist diagnoses an infant or toddler as having a permanent hearing impairment, the audiologist or the audiologist’s designee shall ask the child’s parent or legal guardian if he or she would like to provide contact information to receive direct correspondence from qualified Early Steps providers that offer early intervention services and specialize in serving children with hearing loss. A parent or legal guardian shall authorize the release of the contact information by signing a consent form.
(2) The department shall post on its website a list of qualified Early Steps providers of early intervention services that specialize in serving children with hearing loss and have notified the department of their interest to provide direct communication to families who wish to receive information about the services that they provide.
(3) The audiologist or designee shall send by secure transmission the consent form to those providers listed on the department’s website.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2014-121.