SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1108        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1008

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Benjamin B. Downing

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to newborn pulse oximetry screenings for congenital heart defects.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Benjamin B. Downing

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

John J. Lawn, Jr.

10th Middlesex

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

Kenneth J. Donnelly

Fourth Middlesex

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

Michael R. Knapik

Second Hampden and Hampshire

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

Kathleen O'Connor Ives

First Essex

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

34th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1108        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1008

By Mr. Downing, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1008) of Benjamin B. Downing, Sal N. DiDomenico, John J. Lawn, Jr., William N. Brownsberger and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to screenings for congenital heart defects for newborns.  Public Health.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to newborn pulse oximetry screenings for congenital heart defects.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 67H the following new section:-

Section 67I. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"birthing facility" means an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the Department of Public Health that provides birthing and newborn care services.

“pulse oximetry screening” means a non-invasive test that estimates the percentage of hemoglobin in blood that is saturated with oxygen

Each hospital and birthing center which provides newborn infant care shall submit to the department for its approval a protocol for newborn pulse oximetry screening to be performed on every newborn in its care prior to discharge.

The Department of Public Health shall promulgate regulations to implement the newborn pulse oximetry screening program.