Oklahoma Signs CCHD Screening Into Law

Oklahoma has now become the 13th state in the nation to enact a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD) screening law. Governor Mary Fallin and the Oklahoma General Assembly signed the legislation, introduced by Representative Dan Kirby, this week. 

The adoption of the legislation was a major victory for Oklahoma parents, whose grassroots efforts led the way to standard screening in Oklahoma. Save Babies Through Screening Foundation gives the parents that worked on the bill, the Oklahoma General Assembly and Governor Fallin kudos for this addition to the newborn screening panel.

Among those who worked tirelessly to get the legislation passed was Sharon Miller, who lost her daughter Chloe to CCHD in 2001. Along with her husband Chad, they worked with the Department of Health, lawmakers and other mothers to lobby for the bill. They were also joined by mom Melissa Moore, who started the organization Greyson’s Advocates in memory of her son, to help families with children born with congenital heart defects.

“As a mother that lost a child to CCHD, it is comforting to know that future CCHD babies born in this state will be saved by this legislation. I commend the Oklahoma General Assembly and Governor Mary Fallin for passing this important bill,” Miller said.

The CCHD screening procedure involves placing a pulse oximeter on a newborns right hand and left foot when the newborn is 24 hours old. Low oxygen saturation numbers may indicate a problem with the child’s heart. About 1 in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect, and many of those aren’t found until after birth. Late diagnosis can lead to developmental delays and even death.

Such was the case for Save Babies Through Screening Foundation Advisory Board member Kristine Brite McCormick’s daughter, who died at five days old from undetected critical congenital heart disease.

“A congenital heart defect diagnosis by a physician when your baby is young or even in utero is an extremely stressful situation. A diagnosis by the coroner is crushing. Thank you Oklahoma for taking this important step toward saving families the pain of losing their baby to undetected congenital heart disease,” McCormick said.

For more on this story please visit:

http://www.savebabies.org/blog/2013/04/cchd-screening-signed-into-law-in-oklahoma/

About the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation

Comprised of volunteers whose lives have been touched by newborn screening (NBS), Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is the only advocacy organization in the country dedicated to Newborn Screening. SBTS aims to educate parents, pediatric healthcare providers and policy makers about available comprehensive Newborn Screening, the importance of obtaining positive or other test results requiring follow-up actions within five days of birth and the importance of prompt confirmatory testing and treatment/management when required. The Foundation’s mission is to ensure that every newborn in the U.S. be screened successfully, effectively and comprehensively.

Save Babies Through Screening Foundation programs are supported by public contribution’s that help us deliver vital education, community services, and advocacy programs free of charge. Every gift, whether large or small, helps us protect children from the effects of these detectable and treatable disorders.

CONTACT: Save Babies Through Screening Foundation
http://www.savebabies.org
P. O. Box 42197
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Toll Free: 1-888-454-3383 

Contact Information

Jill Levy-Fisch

President

Save Babies Through Screening Foundation

Contact via E-mail