Last month, Congress approved and President Bush signed legislation to establish national guidelines on comprehensive newborn screening. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act also provides federal funding to educate parents and health professionals about the importance of newborn screening, and improves the systems for follow-up care for infants with an illness detected through the tests. The American College of Medical Genetics recommends that every baby born in the United States be tested for 29 metabolic and functional disorders, but only 19 states and the District of Columbia currently require such testing. The American Academy of Pediatrics supported the legislation. The new law “expands and improves the supports offered by the federal government to ensure that states have the resources necessary to ensure that all newborns receive the necessary tests and appropriate follow-up care,” said AAP President Renee Jenkins in a statement.
PREVIEW