NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING

Amends the Newborn Metabolic Screening Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Newborn Screening Act. Specifies that, for purposes of the Act, hearing disorders are a genetic, metabolic, or congenital anomaly for which newborns must be screened. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the base fee for newborn screening services shall be $165. Provides that 22% of the base fee must be allocated to the Department of Public Health for the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. Provides that other State and federal funds for expenses related to metabolic, hearing, or congenital disorder screening, follow-up, and treatment programs (rather than only metabolic screening, follow-up, and treatment programs) may also be placed in the Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund. In provisions concerning the temporary testing of all blood and biological specimens, excludes hearing screenings. Makes conforming and technical changes to the title of the Act, the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois Procurement Code, the Illinois Public Aid Code, and the Genetic Information Privacy Act. Effective immediately.