SSB 1001 (LSB 1177XC (1) 85)

SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON RAGAN)

A BILL FOR

An Act requiring pulse oximetry screening for newborns in a birthing hospital.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 136A.5, Code 2013, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  Beginning October 1, 2013, the department shall require each birthing hospital, as defined in section 135.131, to perform a pulse oximetry screening on every newborn in its care prior to discharge from the birthing hospital. The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
EXPLANATION
   This bill instructs the department of public health to require birthing hospitals to perform a pulse oximetry screening on every newborn in the facility’s care prior to the newborn’s discharge from the hospital. A birthing hospital is a private or public hospital that is licensed as a hospital by the department of public health and has a licensed obstetric unit or is licensed to provide obstetric services. A pulse oximetry screening estimates the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen and helps detect congenital heart defects. The bill directs the department of public health to adopt rules to implement the bill. The bill requires birthing hospitals to comply with the pulse oximetry screening requirement by October 1, 2013.