Hatch, Hagan seek improvements to newborn screening law

A bill to improve programs that identify, diagnose and treat newborn babies was recently introduced in the Senate by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.).

The Newborn Screening Saves Lives and Reauthorization Act is designed to help newborns who have illnesses that will cause future disabilities, developmental issues, further sickness or death if left untreated.

Hatch said the bill would ensure that states can enhance newborn screening programs that allow doctors and other providers to quickly diagnose and treat conditions in order to prevent brain damage, disability and death.

The original act, which became law in 2008, established national newborn screening guidelines and supported newborn screening in every state. The recently introduced bill would improve the follow-up care for infants that screen positive for a condition, accelerate the review of proposed new conditions that each state should screen for and expand the role of the newborn screening information clearinghouse.

“As a mom, I know what it feels like to be singularly concerned with the health and well-being of your new baby, and improving our screening systems can put all parents a little bit more at ease,” Hagan said.

Approximately one in every 300 newborn babies have a condition that can be detected through screening, according to the March of Dimes.