MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Bennett
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-21-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY (SMA) IN THOSE CONDITIONS COVERED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE NEWBORN SCREENING PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 41-21-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-21-201. (1) The State Department of Health shall establish, maintain and carry out a comprehensive newborn screening program designed to detect hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria (PKU), hemoglobinopathy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and such other conditions as specified by the State Board of Health and as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The State Board of Health shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to accomplish the program.
(2) The State Board of Health shall determine and specify the conditions that will be included in the comprehensive newborn screening program in addition to those conditions named in subsection (1) of this section, upon the advice and recommendations of a genetics advisory committee and in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The advisory committee shall be appointed by the Executive Director of the State Department of Health, and shall include at least two (2) pediatricians and one (1) consumer representative from a family that has experience with a newborn infant with an abnormal screening test. The State Department of Health shall maintain a list of each of the conditions included in the comprehensive newborn screening program, which shall be made available to physicians and other health care providers who are required to provide for newborn screening testing under Section 41-21-203.
(3) The State Department of Health shall develop information materials about newborn screening tests that are available, which may be used by physicians and other health care providers to inform pregnant women and parents.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.