On February 27, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved, by voice vote, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (H.R. 1281). The Senate approved its version of the measure (S. 1417), sponsored by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), on January 29 (see The Source, 1/31/14).
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), would reauthorize $25.834 million annually through FY2018 to improve screening of, and counseling and follow up treatment for, newborn and heritable disorders. The clearinghouse on newborn screening information and the advisory committee on heritable disorders would be reauthorized. The bill also would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to develop longitudinal follow up and tracking programs for newborn screening.
