SB 962

In general, under current law, newborns must be tested for certain congenital

and metabolic disorders as specified in rules promulgated by the Department of

Health Services. The federal Department of Health and Human Services maintains

a list of disorders for which it recommends testing in newborns, known as the federal

Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP).

Under this bill, DHS must evaluate each disorder that is included in the RUSP

as of January 1, 2024, to determine whether newborns in this state should be tested

for that disorder. This requirement does not apply to any disorder in the RUSP if,

as of January 1, 2024, the disorder is already included in the list of disorders for

which newborns must be tested in this state. In addition, the bill requires DHS to

evaluate any disorder added to the RUSP after January 1, 2024, to determine

whether newborns in this state should be tested for that newly added disorder. If

DHS determines newborns should not be tested for the disorder, DHS must annually

review medical literature and the department's capacity and resources to test for the

disorder in order to determine whether to reevaluate the inclusion of the disorder in

newborn testing in this state. If, in any of these evaluations or reevaluations, DHS

determines that a disorder in the RUSP should be added to the list of disorders for

which newborns must be tested in this state, the bill requires DHS to promulgate

rules to add that disorder.

The requirements for evaluations, reviews, and reevaluations under the bill do

not apply to a disorder in the RUSP if DHS is in the process of adding, by rule, the

disorder to the list of disorders for which newborns must be tested in this state.

However, if the rule-making procedure for that disorder does not result in

promulgation of a rule, then DHS must consider the disorder under the review and

reevaluation procedures under the bill.