MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Aldridge
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT NEWBORN CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS MUST HAVE THEIR OXYGEN SATURATION LEVEL TESTED AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A CHILD'S OXYGEN SATURATION LEVEL IS BELOW A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, THE SATURATION LEVEL MUST BE RETESTED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES; TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE SATURATION LEVEL STILL IS LOW AFTER THE ADDITIONAL TESTS, OTHER TESTS MUST BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE LOW SATURATION LEVEL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The physician attending any newborn child in a hospital in this state, or the person attending any newborn child in a hospital in this state if the child is not attended by a physician, shall have the child's oxygen saturation level tested with an oxygen saturation probe at least one (1) time before the child is discharged from the hospital. If a child's oxygen saturation level is below ninety-five percent (95%) when initially tested, the physician or other person attending the child shall have the child's oxygen saturation level retested one (1) week after the initial test and two (2) weeks after the second test. If the child's oxygen saturation level is below ninety-five percent (95%) after the third test, the physician or other person attending the child shall conduct such other tests as necessary to determine the cause for the child's low oxygen saturation level.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.