2017 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 25 - Public Health and Environment
Disease Control
Article 4 - Disease Control
Part 10 - Newborn Screening and Genetic Counseling and Education Act
§ 25-4-1004. Newborn screening

(1) (a) Repealed.

(b) On or after April 1, 1989, all infants born in the state of Colorado shall be tested for the following conditions: Phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism, abnormal hemoglobins, galactosemia, cystic fibrosis, biotinidase deficiency, and such other conditions as the board of health may determine meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1). Appropriate specimens for such testing shall be forwarded by the hospital in which the child is born to the laboratory operated or designated by the department of public health and environment for such purposes. The physician, nurse, midwife, or other health professional attending a birth outside a hospital shall be responsible for the collection and forwarding of such specimens. The results of the testing shall be forwarded directly to the physician or other primary health care provider for the provision of such information to the parent or parents of the child. The results of any testing or follow-up testing pursuant to section 25-4-1004.5 may be sent to the immunization tracking system authorized by section 25-4-2403 and accessed by the physician or other primary health care provider. The state board of health may discontinue testing for any condition listed in this paragraph (b) if, upon consideration of criteria set forth in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1), the board finds that the public health is better served by not testing infants for that condition.

(c) The board of health shall use the following criteria to determine whether or not to test infants for conditions which are not specifically enumerated in this subsection (1):

(I) The condition for which the test is designed presents a significant danger to the health of the infant or his family and is amenable to treatment;

(II) The incidence of the condition is sufficiently high to warrant screening;

(III) The test meets commonly accepted clinical standards of reliability, as demonstrated through research or use in another state or jurisdiction; and

(IV) The cost-benefit consequences of screening are acceptable within the context of the total newborn screening program.

(2) The executive director of the department of public health and environment shall assess a fee which is sufficient to cover the costs of such testing and to accomplish the other purposes of this part 10. Hospitals shall assess a reasonable fee to be charged the parent or parents of the infant to cover the costs of handling the specimens, the reimbursement of laboratory costs, and the costs of providing other services necessary to implement the purposes of this part 10.