WSR 19-15-087
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
[Filed July 19, 2019, 2:25 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-650 WAC, Newborn screening, the Washington state board of health (board) is considering adding spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to the list of mandatory conditions for newborn screening (NBS) conducted by the department of health (department), and improving clarity and usability of the rule.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SMA is a severe condition that can result in significant morbidity or death if not detected and treated early. Early diagnosis of this condition through NBS is essential to save lives and to further improve the quality of life for impacted infants and their families.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative; the board and the department used a multidisciplinary NBS advisory committee to evaluate whether SMA met the board's criteria for inclusion in the NBS panel. The board discussed the committee's recommendations and now wants to proceed with rule making to consider rules that would allow the testing to occur.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Alexandra Montano, P.O. Box 47990, Olympia, WA 98504-7990, phone 360-236-4106, fax 360-236-4088, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email alexandra.montano@sboh.wa.gov.
Additional comments: If you would like to be added to the listserv for this rule making email WSBOH@SBOH.WA.GOV with the subject line "Newborn Screening - Subscribe."
July 19, 2019
Michelle A. Davis
Executive Director