American College of Medical Genetics Commends the Signing of the …
Source: StreetInsider.com (subscription) (Original Article)
BETHESDA, Md., April 25 /PRNewswire/ — The American College of Medical
Genetics (ACMG) applauds the signing into law of the Newborn Screening Saves
Lives Act (S.1858) sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and 21
co-sponsors including ACMG’s Maryland Senators, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD). The bill, signed into law by President George W.
Bush on April 24, will expand screenings of newborn babies for congenital,
genetic and metabolic disorders and will authorize a grant program to expand
the funding to state and local health agencies to provide screening,
counseling and health care services to newborns and children having or at risk
for heritable disorders. It also provides for funds for education and
training of health care professionals in new technologies related to newborn
screening and to develop and deliver educational programs about newborn
screening counseling to parents, families and advocacy groups.
“This legislation will undoubtedly save the lives of many children,” says
Michael S. Watson, PhD, FACMG, executive director of the ACMG, which
recommends universal newborn screening for 29 treatable conditions. “Newborn
screening is a vital public health program. Through early screening, diagnosis
and treatment we can prevent the truly dire consequences of a number of
treatable conditions. With the current expansion of newborn screening panels,
it is estimated that about 10,000 of the 4.1 million babies born each year in
the United States will be identified with one of the conditions for which
treatment will have a significant impact on long-term outcome.”
“This bill places resources where they are needed to make the difference
for families across every state in the US. Advances in technology have made
it possible and feasible to test newborns for a number of serious or deadly
conditions. With advances in genetic medicine, it is now possible to diagnose,
and even more importantly, ANZ Visa Debit to treat more diseases than ever …continue reading