Section 142.303 - Newborn Screening(A) Notwithstanding the provisions of 105 CMR 142.302, free-standing and hospital-affiliated birth centers are subject to the regulations regarding the provision of newborn infant hearing screening as described in the hospital licensure regulations at 105 CMR 130.629: Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programs. Notwithstanding the requirements of those sections, if a birth center does not have the equipment or ability to conduct such a screening, the newborn infant shall be referred prior to discharge from the birth center to a hospital or birth center approved by the Department for such screening. (1) Prior to discharge, a birth center that is not able to conduct a hearing screening shall make an appointment for a screening for each newborn infant at a Department approved screening site.(2) Prior to discharge, written information shall be provided in the language understood by the parent or guardian to the parent or guardian about the importance of the screening, coverage of the costs of the screening by third party payers, the time of any screening appointment scheduled, and the location and phone number of the hearing screening site.(3) The birth center shall within two weeks of the birth of a child perform a follow-up call to the parent or guardian of the newborn infant to verify the infant has received the hearing screening. Records shall be kept to document the conversation about the performance of the screening. As part of the annual report submitted to the Department pursuant to 105 CMR 130.629(C)(3)(k), the birth center shall submit information regarding the follow-up for hearing screening of newborn infants.(4) The birth center shall submit a screening protocol for those portions of 105 CMR 130.629: Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programs designated by the Department in the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Guidelines.(B) Each birth center shall adopt protocols for screening newborns for critical congenital heart disease with pulse oximetry or another test approved by the Department in accordance with Department guidelines. Such protocols shall provide that the screening shall not be performed if the parent or guardian of the newborn infant objects to the screening based upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent or guardian.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1272, eff. 10/24/2014.