All fifty states and Washington, D.C. were asked to provide regulatory information regarding various aspects of routine newborn care including birth certificates, identification procedures, eye prophylaxis, care of the umbilical cord, vitamin K prophylaxis, metabolic screening and neonatal hearing assessment.

Although baseline information is required in all state birth certificates according to a federal database, the states vary substantially in the additional information required. Prophylaxis against gonococcal conjunctivitis is commonly practiced in every state and required in most, but there is some variation in the treatment options (AgNo3, erythromycin, tetracycline). The primary means of accurate infant identification remains the armband. Footprinting remains popular even though the AAP discourages its use. Intramuscular vitamin K prophylaxis and umbilical cord care (clamping and topical agents) are commonly practiced, but most states do not mention these procedures in their healthcare standards.

All states screen neonates for hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria. Selected metabolic screening is performed by fewer states: galactosemia (45) hemoglobinopathies (44), branched chain aminoaciduria (24), and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (16). Fifteen states mandate hearing risk screening and, if sufficient risk factors are identified, an Auditory Brainstem Response Test is required.