A retrospective cohort study from Minnesota found that mandated universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) substantially increased early detection rates and identified mild hearing loss cases that would have been missed by risk‑based approaches. The policy — the first statewide U.S. mandate — improved case capture and enabled earlier referral to audiology and antiviral evaluation. Researchers reported that screening led to more timely interventions and a higher detection rate of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infants who are at risk for late‑onset hearing loss. The study bolsters arguments for broader policy adoption and for standardizing follow‑up protocols for infants testing positive. cCMV is the most common congenital infection and a leading non‑genetic cause of childhood hearing loss; universal screening means testing all newborns regardless of clinical signs, facilitating early surveillance and treatment where indicated.