The March of Dimes supports funding the Department of State Health Services exceptional item 11, Chronic Disease Prevention, which includes $2.9 million in general revenue for cystic fibrosis newborn screening.  By law Texas is required to screen all newborns for 29 disorders. However, cystic fibrosis is the last remaining disorder to be funded. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common, genetic, life-threatening diseases of children and young adults. By diagnosing the disease before a baby becomes ill, an infant with cystic fibrosis is able to start treatment sooner and stay healthier longer.

What can you do?

You can support our efforts to add cystic fibrosis to the newborn screening panel by writing your State Legislator and ask them to include funding in the state’s budget for newborn screening for cystic fibrosis.  To find out who represents you, please visit http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/faq.htm%23who_rep.

Additional Information about newborn screening

·        March of Dimes national website

·        Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

·        National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center

For more information on March of Dimes advocacy efforts, please contact Morgan Sanders, State Director of Public Affairs, at msanders@marchofdimes.com or (512) 477-3221.

Texas Birth Defects Registry

The March of Dimes supports funding the Department of State Health Services exceptional item 3, Health Data Collection and Analysis, which includes $1.9 million for the Texas Birth Defects Registry.  Children with birth defects who survive may experience lifelong physical and mental disabilities, and are at increased risk for developing other health problems. U.S. hospital costs for stays due to birth defects totaled $2.6 billion for all birth defects and all ages in 2004. This figure does not include associated costs of physician care and outpatient services. According to CDC, the lifetime economic cost of caring for infants born each year with any of the 17 most common birth defects exceeds $6 billion annually in the U.S.

The first step in preventing birth defects is to identify their causes. The Texas Birth Defects Registry collects data for finding statewide birth defects trends, suggests areas for further research, and links people to needed services. Because of this, we understand more each day about environmental, genetic, dietary and other risks that cause birth defects.

What can you do?

You can support our efforts to secure funding for the Texas Birth Defects Registry by writing your State Legislator and asking them to include funding in the state’s budget.  To find out who represents you, please visit http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/faq.htm%23who_rep.

Additional information about the Texas Birth Defects Registry

Help support the Texas Birth Defects Registry by purchasing a March of Dimes Texas license plate. To learn more click here.
Texas Birth Defects, Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch's
For more information on birth defects prevention, visit the national March of Dimes website.
For more information on March of Dimes advocacy efforts, please contact Morgan Sanders, State Director of Public Affairs, at msanders@marchofdimes.com or (512) 477-3221.