Definitions

PURPOSE: This section defines the terms used in this chapter. (1) Acceptable refer rates means the department has determined the facility’s percentage of newborns referred for rescreening or diagnostic evaluation is acceptable, based on factors including but not limited to type of equipment; methodology; population screened; and facility staff. (2) Audiologist is a person who is licensed in the state of Missouri according to Chapter 345, RSMo to provide audiological services. (3) Automated screening equipment is equipment used for newborn hearing screening which automatically provides a pass/refer outcome. (4) Automated pass/refer criteria is the interpretive criteria incorporated into hearing screening equipment that automatically provides a pass/refer outcome. (5) Birth admission is the hospitalization during which the newborn is delivered. (6) Diagnostic audiological assessment is the required audiometric testing used to determine the presence, type and severity of hearing loss. (7) Department is the Missouri Department of Health. (8) Department-designee is a person acting on behalf of the department in assessing, tracking and/or surveillance of hearing screening information. (9) Facility is a hospital or ambulatory surgical center licensed by the state of Missouri, Department of Health. (10) Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved equipment is hearing screening equipment that is designed specifically for use with newborns, and has met approved standards of operation set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (11) Hearing loss is a dysfunction of the auditory system of any type or degree that is sufficient to interfere with the acquisition and development of speech and language skills. (12) Hearing screening is the completion of an objective, physiological test or battery of tests using recommended guidelines to identify newborns that need further audiological assessment. (13) Infant is any child at least thirty (30) days of age, and less than twelve (12) months of age. (14) Initial hearing screening is the first hearing screening performed on a newborn preferably prior to discharge from the facility where the birth occurred. (15) Lost to follow-up is a newborn who cannot be located through tracking, and who may not have completed the screening and/or referral process. (16) Missed is any newborn that did not have a hearing screening prior to discharge from the birthing facility. (17) Newborn is any child twenty-nine (29) days of age or less. (18) Non-audiologic personnel means any person that is not licensed as an audiologist in the state of Missouri according to Chapter 345, RSMo. (19) One-stage newborn hearing screening program is designed so that newborns who do not pass the initial hearing screening are referred for diagnostic audiological assessment. (20) Parent is a biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian or other legal custodian of a newborn. (21) Pass is the result obtained by automated hearing screening equipment, with preset interpretive criteria based upon a specific scientific rationale, which requires no further screening or testing. (22) Primary care provider is a physician or person who professionally undertakes the pediatric care of the newborn, and is licensed in the state of Missouri as appropriate. (23) Program manager is the person designated as being responsible for the newborn hearing screening program at a facility. (24) Reasonable effort is demonstrated when the department has documentation of at least two (2) attempts to contact the newborn/infant’s parent(s) by mail or phone, and at least one (1) attempt to contact the newborn/infant’s primary care provider. (25) Refer is the result obtained by hearing screening equipment, with preset interpretive criteria based upon a specific scientific rationale, that requires further screening or confirmatory testing. (26) Referral is the process of sending a newborn that receives a “refer” screening result for additional audiological, educational, medical, or social assessment or evaluation. (27) Rescreening is a repeat hearing screening performed on a newborn or infant, typically in an outpatient setting and preferably within thirty (30) days of the initial hearing screening. (28) Third party payer is any person, corporation, trust, association, the state of Missouri, any governmental subdivision or agency or any other legal entity which pays directly or indirectly for health care services provided to another person or reimburses or pays a benefit to or on behalf of another person for health care services in conformance to a contract, plan, employee benefit or member benefit. (29) Tracking is the process of reviewing information concerning the newborn’s hearing screening status, to ensure the hearing screening and referral process is completed in a timely manner. (30) Two-stage newborn hearing screening program is designed so that newborns who do not pass the initial hearing screening are referred for a rescreening exam. If the newborn does not pass the rescreening exam, the newborn/infant is referred for diagnostic audiological assessment. AUTHORITY: section 191.937, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Aug. 1, 2001, effective Jan. 30, 2002. *Original authority: 191.937, RSMo 1999.