Section 124122

(a) (1) Beginning July 1, 2013, a general acute care hospital that has a licensed perinatal service shall offer to parents of a newborn, prior to discharge, a pulse oximetry test for the identification of CCHD. (2) The State Department of Health Care Services shall issue guidance stating that hospitals perform this test in a manner consistent with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for CCHD screening. (3) A hospital described in paragraph (1) shall be responsible for developing a screening program that provides competent CCHD screening, utilizes appropriate staff and equipment for administering the testing, completes the testing prior to the newborn’s discharge from a newborn nursery unit, refers infants with abnormal screening results for appropriate care, maintains and reports data as required by the department, and provides physician and family-parent education. (b) A pulse oximetry test provided for pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be performed by a licensed physician, licensed registered nurse, or an appropriately trained individual who is supervised in the performance of the test by a licensed health care professional. (c) This section shall not apply to a newborn whose parent or guardian objects to the test on the grounds that the test is in violation of his or her beliefs.