Newborn Screening - Continue to advocate for the testing of all 29 core metablolic and functional conditions.

SCHIP Reauthorization - Encourage House of Represenatitives to override veto of CHIP Reauthorization Act.  The bill increases funding for CHIP by $35 billion over 5 years.

2007 Advocacy Wins:

The Delaware Chapter successfully advocated for insurance polices to cover PKU and other specialized food and formulas.

Many babies born with disorders detected through the newborn screening program require a special diet to avoid health complications that can result in mental retardation, developmental delays, and sometimes death.  Specialized formulas required to treat these types of metabolic conditions are extremely expensive, often costing sevearl hundred dollars per month.

Before August 1, 2007, state law did not require insurance coverage for these specialized formulas; therefore, many families cannot afford to properly care for a child affected by one of these conditions.  The Delaware Chapter was pleased to be invited by Governor Ruth Ann Minner and the Delaware Newborn Screening Program to the bill signing for SB 78.  At the signing the Delaware Chapter presented Governor Minner with the March of Dimes Award for National Leadership in Newborn Screening.

Contact: Aleks Casper, Director of Special Events & Communications
       (302-225-1020)
               

DELAWARE’S GOVERNOR RUTH ANN MINNER RECEIVES MARCH OF DIMES AWARD FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN NEWBORN SCREENING

(July 31, 2007-Newport, Delaware) On Wednesday, August 1, 2007 Delaware’s Governor Ruth Ann Minner will be receiving an award from the March of Dimes for its leadership among states in newborn screening at her Wilmington Office on the 12th Floor of the Carvel Building at 3:00 p.m.  In 2007, Delaware became one of the first states to require that all newborns be screened at birth for 29 treatable metabolic and functional disorders as recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and endorsed by the March of Dimes and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“On behalf of the 3 million active volunteers and 1400 staff of the March of Dimes who are working in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and the 11,369 babies born in Delaware every year, I thank the Governor, the health commission and members of the state legislature for making Delaware a national leader in newborn screening.  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,” said Leslie Kosek, State Director of the March of Dimes, Delaware Chapter.

The March of Dimes National Award for Excellence in Newborn Screening is being presented to the following 13 states and the District of Colombia:  Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia and Wyoming.

“It is an honor for Delaware to be recognized as a national leader for our work on reducing infant mortality and promoting infant health through our strict newborn screening program,” said Governor Ruth Ann Minner. “Our newborn screenings are vitally important to monitoring the health and wellness of our youngest Delawareans.”

The March of Dimes plans to present this award as states implement screening for the 29 “core” treatable conditions, but the 2007 recipients are the first to receive it.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defect, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy and in 2003 launched a multi-year 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 Web site at nacersano.org.