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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 22, 2015 09:37 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Newborn Screening - NKH (Prior HB 2479) |
| I plan to reintroduce former Rep. Stern's legislation that, if enacted, would amend the Newborn Child Testing Act of 1965 to add Non-ketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) to the list of disorders for newborn screening. NKH, also known as glycine encephalopathy, is a severe and rare disorder affecting about one in every 60,000 live births. NKH impairs nervous tissue, including the brain, leading to symptoms such as seizures, breathing and feeding difficulties, muscle limpness and lethargy. NKH usually becomes apparent soon after birth, however sometimes symptoms start to arise in later infancy. While there is currently no known cure, detecting NKH early and beginning proper treatment may help prevent or delay some of the severe health outcomes associated with the condition. While all states require newborn screening for every infant, the number and types of conditions on a state's screening panel varies from state to state. Pennsylvania currently provides screening and follow-up services for all reported abnormal newborn screening results and follow-up services for 23 additional inherited genetic disorders. My legislation will add NKH to the list of disorders for screening. Currently, four states - Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee - have NKH screening. |
Introduced as HB498