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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 2, 2015 01:30 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Angel Cruz |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating September 2015 as “Newborn Screening Awareness Month” |
| I plan to introduce a resolution recognizing September 2015 as “Newborn Screening Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. Named one of the Top 10 Great Public Health Achievements by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), newborn screening is the practice of screening every baby prior to hospital discharge for certain harmful or potentially fatal conditions that are not otherwise apparent at birth. Beginning in 1965 in Pennsylvania with testing for phenylketonuria (PKU), 2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Commonwealth’s newborn screening program. You may recall that my legislation (Act 148 of 2014), became law last October and expanded the list of required diseases for testing from 6 to 12. In addition to the required testing, Pennsylvania provides newborn hearing screening, pulse oximetry testing for critical congenital heart disease and follow up screening and services for other diseases. As part of my continued efforts to bring awareness to newborn screening and rare genetic disorders, I am asking that you co-sponsor my resolution. Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925. |
Introduced as HR479