March of Dimes Applauds Reintroduction of Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act:

Washington, D.C., February 15, 2007-- Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes, issued the following statement as Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) reintroduced the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act:

 “The March of Dimes strongly supports the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Dodd and Senator Orrin Hatch, and we urge its swift consideration in the Senate. The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act would provide $15 million in funding for the education of parents and health care providers about newborn screening, and improve follow-up care for infants with an illness detected through newborn screening.


“Most importantly, it lays the foundation for federal guidance on a core panel of newborn screens that all states should be conducting and authorizes funding to help states expand and improve their programs.  Currently the number of conditions a newborn is screened for depends on which state they were born in. 


 “Screening for treatable conditions immediately after birth can mean the difference between a healthy life or a severe disability or even death for a newborn.  Tragedy can be avoided by quickly identifying a problem and providing the necessary medical treatment. The March of Dimes looks forward to working with Senators Dodd and Hatch to enact this important legislation.”

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.