White: Bill Would Ensure Newborns Receive Lifesaving Heart Screening

, D-Cecil, has introduced legislation that would require hospitals to test newborns for congenital heart defects within 24 hours of birth.

Under the bill, H.B. 2263, hospitals would be required to perform a pulse oximetry screening on newborn babies. Although some hospitals already perform pulse oximetry newborn screenings, hospitals are not required by law to do so.

Meanwhile, an estimated 280 infants with an undiagnosed congenital heart defect are discharged each year from hospitals in the United States.

"I learned about this issue after a constituent told me about their newborn daughter, who was rushed to the hospital because of a heart defect that likely would have been detected if this test had been given at birth," White explained. "In today’s age of technology, and with advanced screening tools at our disposal, we should be doing all we can to ensure our precious little ones get proper screening now to avoid tragedy later."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 12 percent of babies born each year have one of seven critical congenital heart defects. Newborns that are not screened for such defects are at greater risk of death or life-long disabilities. 

The non-invasive screening utilizes a sensor placed on an infant’s foot to measure the amount of oxygen in their bloodstream.

"Congenital heart defects are responsible for nearly 24 percent of infant deaths in the United States," White said. "It makes sense to screen newborns right away so they can receive the specialized care they critically need while they are already in the hospital."

The Pennsylvania Newborn Screening Technical Advisory Committee recently recommended that screening for critical congenital cyanotic heart disease using the best available technology be added to the Pennsylvania State mandated newborn screening and follow-up panels.