As a member of the Missouri Senate I take great pride in the fact that the Missouri Legislature as a whole has a solid history of ensuring that the smallest citizens of this great state are protected from the very beginning of their lives. In 2014 we passed landmark legislation expanding early childhood education. Another way to help is by offering newborn screenings. Missouri’s newborn screenings program started in 1965. Missouri is one of 36 states that requires newborn screenings, and is one of 17 states that requires health insurers to cover the screenings. As a parent I take great comfort in knowing our state is among others that not only require this testing, but also updates the testing requirements in an effort to protect our children as best it can.

Some of the screenings Missouri requires include:

• A 1999 law declares every newborn delivered in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital must be screened for hearing loss prior to discharge unless the parents object on religious grounds. The law also creates a Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Committee.

• A law passed in 2002 also deals with hearing screenings for newborns. The law requires any facility that transfers a newborn to a different facility for further care prior to the completion of the newborn hearing screening, to notify the receiving facility of the current status of the hearing screening. If the hearing screening is incomplete, the receiving facility is responsible for completing the hearing screening for newborns.

• Another law passed in 1999 requires health insurance policies and Medicaid to cover newborn hearing screenings and additional diagnostic exams.

• The Brady Alan Cunningham Newborn Screening Act passed in 2009 mandates newborn screening for Lysosomal Storage Diseases like, Krabbe, Pompe, Fabry, Neimann-Pick and Gaucher diseases.

• In 2007, Missouri began screening for cystic fibrosis and in 2008 for Biotinidase Deficiency.

Missouri screens for 58 conditions. Missouri’s Newborn Screening Program aims at early identification of infants who are affected by certain genetic or metabolic conditions by testing the newborn before they are discharged from the hospital, usually within 24-48 hours of birth.  Currently, the state’s Newborn Screening Program offers screening for many different health problems that may benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.  Being able to diagnose and treat a number of these conditions will not only improve the child’s chance at a normal life, but may indeed save their life.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is responsible for directing the Newborn Screening Program.  

Ensuring every Missourian has the needed resources to build and live a healthy life is vital. And that means starting with newborn screenings. As we celebrate the life of a child we must also work to ensure they are protected both through quality health care and resources they utilize in their everyday lives. We are not always able to predict what health issues or tragedies might affect our lives. Newborn screenings enable Missourians to avoid some predictable tragedies.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (866) 277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.

Senator David Pearce serves Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline counties in the 21st State Senatorial District.