Mar 6, 2013 2 min read

State Rep. Jesse White, D- Cecil, has reintroduced legislation that would require hospitals to test newborns for congenital heart defects within 24 hours of birth.

Under House Bill 809, hospitals would be required to perform a pulse oximetry screening on newborn babies, which is a simple and painless test that places sensors on the baby’s skin to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood and measure the pulse rate. Although some hospitals already perform pulse oximetry newborn screenings, it is not required under current law. Meanwhile, an estimated 300 infants with an undiagnosed CHD are discharged each year from hospitals in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital heart defects account for nearly 24 percent of infant deaths. In addition, about 12 percent of babies born each year have one of seven critical congenital heart defects. Newborns who are not screened for CHDs are at greater risk of death or lifelong disabilities.

The Pennsylvania Newborn Screening and Follow-Up Technical Advisory Committee last year recommended that screening for critical congenital cyanotic heart disease using the best available technology be added to Pennsylvania’s state-mandated newborn screening and follow-up panels. On March 1, the state began collecting monthly aggregate CHD data from birthing hospitals, centers and midwives.

The legislation was previously introduced in the 2011-2012 legislative session but was not considered on the House floor.