(ATLANTA, GA, March 22, 2006)— The March of Dimes Georgia Chapter is celebrating a victory today with the passing of House Bill 1066.  After passing the House 170-7 and the Senate 53-0, this new legislation signifies an important step in increasing protection for Georgia’s newborns from debilitating and deadly genetic metabolic disorders. Beginning January 1, 2007, House Bill 1066 will allow the state to charge $40 for the kits used to perform newborn screens. 

“This piece of legislation is monumental to the health of Georgia’s babies,” says Brian Ziegler, State Director of the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter.  “The March of Dimes has been working with the state for more than five years to expand Georgia’s newborn screening program and we are now where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Georgia currently screens for 12 disorders with an optional 13th hearing screen, but the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter has been advocating for the state to meet the national March of Dimes and American College of Medical Genetics recommended screening for a uniform panel of 29 screens. All of these disorders can be successfully managed or treated to prevent severe consequences, if diagnosed early. Following the passing of House Bill 1066, the next steps are the governor’s signature on the bill and amending the existing rules and regulations of the newborn screening program, which will allow Georgia to add the additional recommended 17 screens.

“The March of Dimes along with Emory University and the Department of Human Resources have created a unique and powerful collaboration on newborn screening.” said Dr. Paul Fernhoff, medical director of the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine. “The extent of newborn screening for serious and treatable disorders depends entirely on the state in which a baby is born and for infants affected with these conditions, these screens can mean the difference between life and death, or health and lifelong disability.”

Until now, Georgia was one of only five states that did not charge for newborn screening.  The Department of Human Resources estimates that 88 children will be identified each year with treatable conditions that cause mental retardation, developmental disability or death.  The state could save $70 million in special education and other costs, and in lost wages over time through additional screening.

Newborn screening begins with collecting a few drops of blood, usually from the newborn’s heel, before hospital discharge.*  After screening, if a result is positive, the infant is re-tested and given treatment as soon as possible, before becoming seriously ill or dying from the disease. 

Visit www.marchofdimes.com/nbs or www.marchofdimes.com/georgia for more information on newborn screening, including a list of the recommended 29 disorders.

In 2001, the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter developed a multi-million dollar statewide pilot program to expand newborn screening testing.  This public and private partnership involves the March of Dimes, the Division of Public Health (DHR), Emory University Scholl of Medicine Department of Genetics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of the project is to expand Georgia’s capacity to screen for more metabolic disorders, thereby facilitating rapid, sometimes life-saving treatments to affected infants.  The Newborn Metabolic Screening Executive Committee leads this project and is responsible for equipment procurement, expanded professional/provider educations, improved community education, enhanced follow-up, longitudinal evaluation and advocacy.

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 www.marchofdimes.com/georgia or its Spanish Web site at http://www.nacersano.org/.

* PHOTO AVAILABLE OF NEWBORN HEEL PRICK.

Media Contact for March of Dimes – Brittney Gray, 404-350-9800 ext. 224 or bgray@marchofdimes.com

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