Section DHS 116.04 - Reporting of birth defects(1) BIRTH DEFECTS FOR WHICH REPORTING IS MANDATORY. Reporters shall report to the department a birth defect listed in Appendix A for children in whom the condition is diagnosed or treated by age 2.(2) RESPONSIBILITIES FOR REPORTING. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the following persons shall report a birth defect to the department: 1. A physician who diagnoses a birth defect or treats a child with a birth defect.2. A pediatric specialty clinic that diagnoses a birth defect or treats a child with a birth defect.(b) No person specified under par. (a) 1. or 2. need report under this subsection if that person knows that another person specified under par. (a) 1. or 2. or par. (c) has already reported to the department the information required under sub. (3) with respect to the same birth defect of the same child.(c) A hospital that diagnoses a birth defect or treats a child with a birth defect may report the birth defect to the department.(d) The department may not require a reporter under par. (a), (b) or (c) to provide the name of a child to the department if the child's parent or guardian states in writing that he or she refuses to release the name or address of the child to the department.(3) REPORT CONTENT AND FORMAT.(a) Each report of a child with a birth defect shall include the content and format of the report found in the department's confidential birth registry form, except as provided in sub. (2) (d).(b) Reports shall be submitted to the department on paper or electronically in a format prescribed by the department. Note: Reports may be mailed to the Wisconsin Children with Special Health Care Needs Program - Attention Birth Defects Registry, 1 West Wilson Street, P.O. Box 2659, Madison, WI 53701-2659. Reports may be faxed to the Birth Defects Registry at 608-267-9042, uploaded electronically with approval and assistance by the Program, or submitted electronically to the Wisconsin Birth Defects Registry through a batch upload. A copy of the form to be used for reporting birth defects may be obtained by writing the Birth Defects Registry at the preceding address or by calling 608-266-6967.
Note: The Confidential Birth Registry Report Form, DHS F-40054, is available at https://dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/f4/f40054.pdf.
(4) TIMELINESS OF REPORTS. A report shall be submitted to the department on a monthly basis, or within 30 calendar days after a birth defect is identified, whichever occurs later.(5) DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES. (a) The department shall establish and keep an up-to-date registry that complies with s. 253.12 (3) (a)1, Stats.(b) The department shall do all of the following:1. Review each report it receives for completeness and accuracy.2. Review child-identifiable data to ensure each child is counted only once to maximize the utility of registry information for population-based epidemiological studies as needed.3. Query reporting sources to substantiate conflicting data.4. Resolve differences between inconsistent data.5. Obtain missing or incomplete data.6. Include submitted data in the registry within 60 calendar days of receiving the data.(c) If the department determines there is a discrepancy in any data reported to the department, the department may request that the reporter provide the department with related birth defect information contained in the child's medical records. The reporter shall provide the information to the department within 10 working days after the date the department transmits the request.(d) With informed consent, the department shall refer a child with a birth defect to a local health officer, a local birth to 3 program or an agency under contract with the department to administer the children with special health care needs program for information, referral or follow-up services.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Health Services DHS 116.04
CR 02-117: cr. Register March 2003 No. 569, eff. 4-1-03.Amended by, 2017 Wis. Act 59: am. (2) (d) Register October 2017 No. 742, eff. 11/1/2017Amended by, CR 23-046: am. (1), (2) (a) to (c), (3) (a), (4), (5) (c), (d) Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24; correction in (2) (a) 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register April 29 No. 820, eff. 5/1/2024