There is nothing new about legislating public health initiatives. Historical examples include immunization programs, infant car seat mandates, and fortifying foods with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.1 More recently, about two-thirds of states have passed laws requiring universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) shortly after birth, the first step in identifying congenital hearing loss.2 Laws vary from state to state, and although the majority of states with UNHS legislation mandate hearing screening, not all states require that every newborn be screened.2

A recent 4-year (2000-2003) analysis by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities revealed that hearing screening rates in states that implemented UNHS legislation were significantly higher than states without such legislation.2 In 2003, 76% of states with UNHS legislation screened at least 95% of infants, compared with 26% of states without legislation. States with partial legislation and states with no legislation (voluntary screening) increased their rates of screening throughout the 4-year period of study; however, they still did not achieve the benchmark of screening at least 95% of infants by 1 month of age.2

References