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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 847
AN ACT CONCERNING NEWBORN INFANT HEALTH SCREENING.
SUMMARY
This bill makes various changes to the state’s Newborn Screening
Program. Principally, it:
1. extends health care institutions’ newborn screening
requirements to licensed nurse-midwives and midwives;
2. requires health care institutions, nurse-midwives, and midwives
(hereafter “providers”) to generally perform newborn
screenings for genetic and metabolic disorders using blood spot
specimens between 24 and 48 hours after birth;
3. requires providers to send the blood spot specimens to the state
public health lab within 24 hours after collection;
4. requires providers to notify the Department of Public Health
(DPH) within 72 hours after a newborn’s birth about the reason
why a specimen was not collected in this timeframe, when
applicable; and
5. eliminates the requirement that the Office of Policy and
Management approve a disorder included on the federal
Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) (see
(BACKGROUND) before DPH adds it to the list of conditions
for which the program screens.
Separate from the Newborn Screening Program, existing law
requires health care institutions to test newborns for other specified
conditions. The bill eliminates the requirement that institutions test
newborns for spinal muscular atrophy but continues to require that
they test for critical congenital heart disease; cystic fibrosis; and, when 2021SB-00847-R000215-BA.DOCX
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a newborn fails a hearing test, cytomegalovirus. (The latter must be
performed within available appropriations.) It also extends these
testing requirements to licensed nurse-midwives and midwives, who
must, as under existing law, administer the testing as soon as it is
medically appropriate unless the parents object on religious grounds.
Additionally, the bill requires health care institutions that perform
the newborn screening test for cystic fibrosis to annually report to
DPH the number and aggregate results of the screenings, regardless of
the patient’s insurance status or payment source.
Lastly, the bill makes several technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
NEWBORN SCREENING PR OGRAM
Testing Timeframes
The bill requires providers to perform required newborn screenings
using a blood spot specimen. The specimen must be collected between
24 and 48 hours after the infant’s birth unless the provider determines
a situation exists that warrants its early collection or that it is medically
contraindicated.
Under the bill, conditions that warrant early collection of the
specimen include (1) imminent transfusion of blood products, (2)
dialysis, (3) the infant’s early discharge from a health care institution
or transfer from one institution to another, or (4) imminent death.
Under the bill, if a newborn dies before a blood spot specimen is
obtained, then the specimen must be collected as soon as practicable
after death.
Notification Requirements
The bill requires providers to notify DPH when a specimen is not
collected within the required 48 hours after birth for any reason,
including (1) medical fragility, (2) the parent’s refusal of the screening
due to religious conflict, or (3) a newborn receiving comfort measures
only. 2021SB-00847-R000215-BA.DOCX
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Under the bill, providers must document the reason in the state’s
newborn screening system or send written notification to DPH within
72 hours after the newborn’s birth.
Specimen Processing
The bill requires providers to send the blood spot specimen to the
state’s public health laboratory within 24 hours after collecting it. DPH
may request an additional blood spot specimen if the specimen (1) was
collected early or after a blood transfusion, (2) is unsatisfactory for
testing, or (3) yields an abnormal result as determined by the
department.
BACKGROUND
Recommended Uniform Screening Panel
RUSP is a list of health conditions that the federal Department of
Health and Human Services recommends states screen for as part of
their newborn screening programs. Conditions are included on the list
based on evidence of the potential benefit of screening, states’ ability to
screen, and the availability of effective treatments (42 U.S.C. § 300b-10).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 32 Nay 1 (03/12/2021)