Senate Bill No. 67
(By Senators Hunter, Dempsey and Weeks)
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[Introduced January 11, 2006; referred to the Committee
on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on
Finance.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §16-22-3 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to expanding newborn testing to
include sickle cell anemia.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §16-22-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 22. DETECTION AND CONTROL OF PHENYLKETONURIA,
GALACTOSEMIA, HYPOTHYROIDISM, AND CERTAIN
OTHER DISEASES IN NEWBORN CHILDREN.
§16-22-3. Tests for phenylketonuria, galactosemia, sickle cell
anemia and hypothyroidism and certain other diseases
specified by the State Public Health Commissioner;
reports; assistance to afflicted Children; Public
Health Commissioner to promulgate rules.
(a) The hospital or birthing center in which an infant is
born, the parents or legal guardians, the physician attending a
newborn child, or any person attending a newborn child not under
the care of a physician shall require and ensure that each such
child be tested for phenylketonuria, galactosemia, hypothyroidism,
sickle cell anemia, and certain other diseases specified by the
State Public Health Commissioner according to current
recommendations of the State Bureau of Public Health. Any test
found positive for phenylketonuria, galactosemia, hypothyroidism,
sickle cell anemia or certain other diseases specified by the State
Public Health Commissioner shall be promptly reported to the State
Bureau of Public Health by the director of the laboratory
performing such test.
(b) The State Bureau of Public Health, in cooperation with
other state departments and agencies, and with attending
physicians, is authorized to provide medical, dietary and related
assistance to children determined to be afflicted with
phenylketonuria, galactosemia, hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia,
and certain other diseases specified by the State Public Health
Commissioner.
(c) The State Public Health Commissioner is authorized to
promulgate propose rules for promulgation by the Legislature
pursuant to chapter twenty-nine of this code to implement the
provisions of this section, with the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require testing of
newborns for and authorize treatment of sickle cell anemia.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.