OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
HB-6919
AN ACT REQUIRING NEWBORN SCREENING FOR DUCHENNE
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
Primary Analyst: NB 3/10/25
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: JS
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Public Health,
Dept.
GF - Cost None 337,000 319,000
State
Comptroller -
Fringe Benefits
1
GF - Cost None 56,000 56,000
Public Health,
Dept.
GF - Potential
Revenue Gain
None See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill adds Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) to the state's
newborn screening panel. This will result in a cost to the Department of
Public Health's (DPH's) existing Newborn Screening Program of
approximately $337,000 in FY 27 and $319,000 in FY 28 (and annually
thereafter), and an estimated annual cost to the Office of State
Comptroller for associated fringe benefits of $56,000 beginning in FY 27.
It is anticipated that DPH will initiate implementation of the
programmatic expansion during FY 27, to validate testing methods and
prepare for universal testing starting July 1, 2027.
1
The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 40.71% of payroll in FY 26. 2025HB-06919-R000084-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 3
The costs to DPH reflect the need for two new positions, with a total
Personal Services annual cost of $137,000: (1) a Chemist 2 to perform this
new laboratory screening on each year’s birth cohort, at an annual salary
of $73,000, and (2) a Health Program Assistant 1 to facilitate the new
screening process, at an annual salary of $64,000. Fringe benefits costs
for these positions are $30,000 and $26,000, respectively.
Additional costs to DPH are anticipated to total $200,000 in FY 27 and
$182,000 in FY 28 (and annually thereafter).
2
The expected FY 27 costs,
which continue with inflation into the out years (except where noted),
are: (1) DMD testing kits ($150,000), (2) ancillary laboratory supplies and
are reagents ($18,000), (3) education materials regarding DMD
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment to be distributed to every
gynecologist, obstetrician and pediatrician in the state for provision to
their pregnant and postpartum patients ($7,000), and (4) a one-time FY
27 expense for Laboratory Information Management System software
upgrades ($25,000).
It is uncertain at this time whether any offsetting revenue will be
generated due to passage of this bill. DPH is currently authorized to
collect a fee of at least $98 per child from hospitals submitting samples
for newborn testing. The exact fee (currently $113) is set at the discretion
of the commissioner, subject to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
Management's approval. If the agency elects to increase the fee to cover
the costs of DMD testing, a corresponding General Fund revenue gain,
which may be significant in magnitude, would occur.
The Out Years
The DMD program is nominated for inclusion on the federal
Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), which is a list of
disorders that the Secretary of Health and Human Services recommends
for states to screen as part of their Newborn Screening Program. If
added, future DMD screening costs may be eligible for a federal NBS
2
FY 28 other expenses cost reflects an estimated 4% increase in product prices annually,
resulting in increased costs for DMD testing kits ($6,000) and ancillary supplies and
reagents ($1,000). 2025HB-06919-R000084-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 3
Propel grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
If DMD screening is not added to the RUSP, the annualized ongoing
fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to
inflation.