Georgia Establishes Statewide System to Ensure All Newborns Receive Health Screenings

Georgia Establishes Statewide System to Ensure All Newborns Receive Health Screenings

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue, surrounded by child healthcare advocates, signed into law today HB1066, a bill establishing a statewide screening system to test newborns for genetic metabolic disorders that could affect their health and well-being. HB1066 was sponsored by Representative Judy Manning and carried in the Senate by Senator Renee Unterman.

“Our young children deserve the very best start in life,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Newborn screenings help detect potential disorders early so that we can give children the best chance of reaching their fullest potential.”

Newborn screening is designed to prevent sickness and developmental disabilities in babies. HB1066 establishes a screening program in the Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health. The comprehensive, statewide system will assure that all newborns receive important testing for disorders by the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. The laboratory will follow-up with the families of infants with results for diagnosis, treatment and family counseling.

Until now Georgia screened for only 13 of 29 potential conditions. HB1066 brings Georgia in line with the American College of Medical Genetics’ recommendation that states screen babies for 29 metabolic and genetic conditions.

Testing for all 29 disorders will save approximately $70 million each year for the cost of long-term care associated with metabolic disorders. Georgia currently tests approximately 135,000 babies each year. Of these children, at least 136 will have a metabolic disorder. Treatments for metabolic disorders involve the use of vitamins, hormone supplements and diet changes to help prevent developmental disabilities, mental retardation and death. The average fee for screening by other states is $43. Georgia will charge a fee of $40.

The Georgia Chapter of the March of Dimes made a $1 million commitment to the state to expand the Newborn Metabolic Screening Program. This partnership includes the Georgia Division of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory University. On January 24, 2004, the chapter presented Governor Perdue with a check for $100,000 towards this commitment. To date the chapter has given more than $400,000 to the state towards its commitment.

In addition to the March of Dimes, HB1066 was supported by Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.

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