By Bob Katzen
House 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would mandate that hospitals screen all newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (CCMV) by using saliva or Urine Polymerase Chain Reaction tests. The cost of providing the screening would be required to be a covered benefit by all health insurers.
Other provisions would establish a framework to create prenatal education on CCMV and on prevention methods to reduce the number of mothers that contract the virus and pass it along to their child; and mandate reporting of CCMV incidence to the Department of Public Health to provide better data on the disease.
“I’m delighted that this legislation passed the House yesterday,” said sponsor Rep. Sally Kerans (D-Danvers). “A simple newborn screening can detect the presence of CCMV, making critical, time sensitive and highly effective treatment possible. Left undetected and untreated within three weeks of birth, the virus can rob a baby of its hearing and cause other devastating and lifelong complications. CCMV is the leading infectious cause of birth defects and the leading cause of non-genetic childhood hearing loss. It is more common than many of the existing conditions on the universal newborn screening panel. “
“Not every parent may want their child tested for CCMV much like any of the other invasive tests and vaccines the state forces on newborns,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only member who voted against the proposal. “Parental rights are just that. Parents have the right to decide. The bill supported educating the parents but when debated on, [supporters] admitted that people don’t understand. So, the state has to step in and mandate testing. I disagree.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber Yes Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes