General Assembly passes law requiring newborn heart screenings

A bill requiring that nearly every newborn in Ohio be screened for congenital heart defects has passed the General Assembly and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Kasich (Source: “Legislature approves Oelslager bill requiring newborn screenings,” Canton Repository, June 20, 2013).

The Ohio House voted 93-0 Tuesday to approve the legislation and on Thursday, the Ohio Senate passed the bill by a 32-0 vote. 

The law includes a provision allowing parents to opt out of the testing for religious reasons.