30 Ways in 30 Days: Newborn Screening

Funding for Newborn Screening Would Be Trimmed

As many as 5,000 newborn children will be denied state-funded health screenings to test for congenital illnesses and treatable birth defects because of a $450,000 cut, if SB 850 were to become law.

HARRISBURG (June 2, 2009) – A $450,000 cut in a state budget of $28 billion may not seem that significant, but it could spell the difference between a life of good health and an alternative of pain, disability or even death for some Pennsylvania children – all because of a screening test on a single drop of each newborn baby’s blood.

A Senate-approved version of the 2009-10 state budget would cut $450,000 in state funding for the statewide newborn screening program, affecting as many as 5,000 newborn babies. The tests screen for scores of congenital illnesses and treatable birth defects. The defects – if not caught – can be life threatening.

Pennsylvania law requires all babies born in the state to be screened for six specific medical or genetic conditions, even if the baby is born at home. Babies that are born with a medical or genetic condition may appear healthy at birth, but screening is a sure way to detect these conditions early and start treatment.

“It is a test that is priceless to babies, because without these tests you would have many dead infants or severely impaired infants,” said Jill Levy-Fisch, president of Save Babies Through Screening, an organization originally based in Malvern. “Many of the conditions that lead to death can be prevented by something as simple as a change in diet.”

Most babies are born healthy, but it has become regular practice for hospitals to test newborns for illnesses and treatable birth defects. Hospitals in all states test for 20 to 60 different conditions. The tests are done by taking a small sample of blood from the baby’s heel.

Levy-Fisch added that the heartache of losing a child to a condition that is manageable can be prevented by newborn screening tests.

“Also, if a child isn’t screened and they later have a health crisis and testing is needed as well as long-term care, it will cost the state more money to help these children remain healthy, especially if they are on Medical Assistance,” said Levy-Fischer. “From a financial standpoint, it is one of the biggest bang for your buck in the medical field because it can prevent so much financial and mental heartache.”

You can learn more about newborn screenings by calling the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation at 1-888-454-3383 or online at www.savebabies.org.

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