The March of Dimes needs your help!

Please help us by contacting your Minnesota Senator and Representative regarding the following issues.

Access to Health Care

According to the Institute of Medicine, health insurance is the single most important factor in determining whether or not a child receives needed health care. Every child needs preventive care; it helps them become healthy, productive adults. Yet, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, 6% of all children in Minnesota remained uninsured in 2007. Additionally, uninsured Minnesotans are far more likely than their insured counterparts to not have a personal doctor, or not receive any medical attention at all. However, 18.7% of 18 to 24 year olds and 11.4% of 25 to 34 year olds went without health insurance in 2007. This significantly impacts women of childbearing age, and ultimately affects the health of their unborn children.

ACTION: The March of Dimes recommends maintaining needed health coverage for pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and infants and children in families of the working poor.

Minnesota Birth Defects Information System

Nationally, an estimated 120,000 babies are born each year with birth defects. One in five infant deaths is due to birth defects, making them the leading cause of infant mortality. According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), it is estimated that each year, more than 2,000 babies in Minnesota are born with birth defects. The Birth Defects Information System (BDIS) was implemented by MDH in 2005, according to Minnesota state law (144.2215). The primary goals of BDIS are to gather comprehensive data on 45 birth defects in Minnesota, ensure that families receive timely referrals to appropriate services, and implement prevention strategies to reduce the number of birth defects.

ACTION: The March of Dimes recommends appropriating money to fund the Minnesota Birth Defects Information System in order to fully implement Minnesota State Law (144.2215).

2009 Birth Defects Information System Fact Sheet

Newborn Screening

Newborn screening (NBS) is a public health activity for early identification and follow-up of infants affected by certain genetic, metabolic, hormonal and/or functional conditions. Each year the Minnesota Department of Health screens more than 72,000 newborns in Minnesota and saves the lives or greatly improves the outcomes for approximately 75 to 90 children "confirmed positive" with a disorder each year. These early medical interventions prevent severe disabilities and death. Minnesota State Law (144.125) currently mandates screening for 54 disorders, including all 29 conditions recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and endorsed by the March of Dimes.

ACTION: The March of Dimes recommends maintaining the Newborn Screening Program in its current form.

2009 Newborn Screening Fact Sheet

To Contact Your Legislator

To find the contact information for your legislators, click on the following link:

http://www.gis.leg.mn/mapserver/districts/

Type in your address.

Then select your senator or representative.

The contact information will be posted next to your legislator's picture.

Please feel free to copy and paste the example e-mail below or create your own.

Example E-mail

Dear [Senator/Representative _______________],

I am a volunteer for the Minnesota Chapter of the March of Dimes and a constituent of your district. I am writing to ask for your help to ensure that the health of all Minnesota babies is protected. Specifically, I am asking for your support of a Birth Defects Information System (BDIS) funding bill. This bill would provide funding and money appropriated for the Minnesota Birth Defects Information System to fully implement Minnesota State Law (144.2215). Currently the Minnesota BDIS is being implemented only in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. We would like to ensure that ALL Minnesota babies receive the benefits of this system. The primary goals of the BDIS are to gather comprehensive data on 45 birth defects in Minnesota, ensure that families receive timely referrals to appropriate services, and implement prevention strategies to reduce the number of birth defects.

In addition, I ask for your support of the Newborn Screening bill that was recently proposed by the Minnesota Department of Health. This bill will help clarify the role of Newborn Screening and improve the information that new parents receive about all aspects of the program. We believe this bill will also ensure that Newborn Screening remains an 'opt-out' system.

Lastly, I ask you to maintain needed health coverage for pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and infants and children in families of the working poor. Every child needs preventive care; it helps them become healthy, productive adults. This is most likely to happen if the child is insured. Additionally, the health and preventive care of pregnant women and women of childbearing age have a significant impact on the health of their unborn children. Please work to maintain needed health care coverage for these populations.

Thank you for your consideration. For more information, please contact Marianne Keuhn at the March of Dimes at 952-835-3033.

Sample Talking Points for Phone Calls or Meetings

Introduction

* My name is _______. I am a volunteer for the March of Dimes and I am calling to discuss 2 issues that are very important to the March of Dimes.

Birth Defects Information System

* First I would like to ask for your support of a bill to provide statewide funding for the Birth Defects Information System.

* The primary goals of the Birth Defects Information System are to gather comprehensive data on 45 birth defects in Minnesota, ensure that families receive timely referrals to appropriate services, and implement prevention strategies to reduce the number of birth defects.

* The Birth Defects Information System currently is only being implemented in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, we would like to see ALL Minnesota babies with birth defects have access to the services and support the system provides.

Newborn Screening

* Secondly, I would like to ask for your support of the Newborn Screening legislation proposed by the Minnesota Department of Health.

* This bill will help provide clarity around the roles of newborn screening and provide additional information for parents about the newborn screening program.

Conclusion

* [Indicate that the March of Dimes hopes the individual will support the Foundation’s position on this legislation – try to get a sense of where the individual stands on this issue – if possible,
obtain a commitment to support (or opposition)]

* If you have any questions about this matter please contact Marianne Keuhn, State Director of Program Services for the March of Dimes at 952-835-3033.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Marianne Keuhn at mkeuhn@marchofdimes.com

Sample email and talking points