Published online May 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 5 May 2006, pp. S270-S279 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2633F)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, K.
Right arrow Articles by Therrell, B. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Johnson, K.
Right arrow Articles by Therrell, B. L.
Related Collections
Right arrow Premature & Newborn

SUPPLEMENT ARTICLE

Financing State Newborn Screening Programs: Sources and Uses of Funds

Kay Johnson, MPHa, Michele A. Lloyd-Puryear, MD, PhDb, Marie Y. Mann, MD, MPHb, Lauren Raskin Ramos, MPHc and Bradford L. Therrell, PhDd

a Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire
b Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland
c Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Washington, DC
d National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center, Austin, Texas

BACKGROUND. Financing for newborn screening is different from virtually all other public health programs. All except 5 screening programs collect fees as the primary source of program funding. A fee-based approach to financing newborn screening has been adopted by most states, to ensure consistent funding for this critical public health activity.

METHODS. Two types of data are reported here, ie, primary data from a survey of 37 state public health agencies and findings from exploratory case studies from 7 states.

RESULTS. Most of the programs that participated in this survey (73%) reported that their newborn screening funding increased between 2002 and 2005, typically through increased fees and to a lesser extent through Medicaid, Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, and state general revenue funding. All of the responding states that collect fees (n = 31) use such funds to support laboratory expenses, and most (70%) finance short-term follow-up services and program management. Nearly one half (47%) finance longer-term follow-up services, case management, or family support beyond diagnosis. Other states (43%) finance genetic or nutritional counseling and formula foods or treatment.

CONCLUSIONS. Regardless of the source of funds, the available evidence indicates that states are committed to maintaining their programs and securing the necessary financing for the initial screening through diagnosis. Use of federal funding is currently limited; however, pressure to provide dedicated federal funding would likely increase if national recommendations for a uniform newborn screening panel were issued.

Key Words: newborn screening • financing • fees • Title V • public health • child health

Abbreviations: GAO—Government Accountability Office • FY—fiscal year • MCHB—Maternal and Child Health Bureau • SCHIP—State Children's Health Insurance Program • MS/MS—tandem mass spectrometry

Accepted Dec 27, 2005.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Health Aff (Millwood)Home page
P. H. Arn
Newborn Screening: Current Status
Health Aff., March 1, 2007; 26(2): 559 - 566.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]