Sec. 47.20.300. Department to implement program.

The department shall plan, develop, and implement a hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program to facilitate compliance with the requirements of AS 47.20.310 – 47.20.390.

Sec. 47.20.310. Screening requirements.

(a) Subject to (b) of this section, the physician in attendance at or immediately after the birth of a child in a hospital in this state, or, if a physician is not in attendance at or immediately after the birth, the person attending the newborn child in a hospital in this state, shall, unless medically […]

Sec. 47.20.320. Reporting and tracking program.

(a) The department shall develop and implement a reporting and tracking system for newborns and infants screened for hearing loss in order to provide the department with information and data to effectively plan, establish, monitor, and evaluate the newborn and infant hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program. Evaluation of the program must include evaluation of […]

Sec. 47.20.330. Intervention program.

(a) The department shall establish guidelines for the provision of follow-up care for newborn and infant children in the state who have been identified as having or being at risk of developing a hearing loss. The services recommended must include appropriate follow-up care for newborns and infants with abnormal or inconclusive screening results, such as […]

Sec. 47.20.340. Outreach campaign.

The department shall conduct a community outreach and awareness campaign to inform medical providers, pregnant women, and families of newborns and infants of the newborn and infant hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program and the value of early hearing screening, tracking, and intervention.

Sec. 47.20.350. Report.

The department shall prepare an annual report for the governor about the newborn and infant hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program administered under AS 47.20.310 – 47.20.390. The report must include recommendations on improving the early screening, tracking, and intervention program, including strategies to increase the rate of early screening and the use of appropriate […]

Sec. 47.20.360. Performance evaluation.

(a) The department shall collect and compile performance data on the early hearing screening, tracking, and intervention program established under AS 47.20.300 – 47.20.390 to ensure that the program is in compliance with AS 47.20.300 – 47.20.390 and the regulations adopted under AS 47.20.300 – 47.20.390. The performance evaluation must include (1) a comparison of […]

Sec. 47.20.390. Definitions.

In AS 47.20.300 – 47.20.390, (1) “commissioner” means the commissioner of health; (2) “department” means the Department of Health; (3) “follow-up care” means all of the following: (A) services necessary to diagnose and confirm a hearing loss; (B) ongoing audiological services to monitor hearing; (C) communication services, including aural rehabilitation, speech, language, social, and psychological […]