Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research		 BILL
ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 2023

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Establishing newborn screening fees.

Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Hinkle, Cody, Campbell, Darneille, Walsh, Morrell, Seaquist, Hunter, Hunt, Dunshee, Ericks, Haigh, Simpson, Ormsby and Sells.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Sets newborn screening fees for supplying services in specialty clinics at $67.50 and removes congenital hypothyroidism from the list of eligible disorders that receive treatment funding through the fee.

Hearing Date: 2/12/07

Staff: Bernard Dean (786-7130).

Background:

Newborn infants born in Washington are screened for several inherited genetic disorders before they are discharged from a hospital. In 2005, screenings were performed for approximately 78,000 newborns. The Department of Health (DOH) assesses a one-time charge for the screening which is added to billings for maternity services. The current fee is $60.90 per infant. This newborn screening fee does not cover follow-up treatment services for children.

However, the DOH is authorized to collect an additional fee to fund specialty clinics that provide treatment services for hemoglobin diseases, phenylketonuria, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hypothyroidism, and, during the 2005-07 fiscal biennium, other inheritable or metabolic disorders leading to mental retardation or physical defects as defined by the state Board of Health. The additional fee is currently set at $6.60 per infant. This includes $3.50 per infant to replace discontinued federal grants that supported the treatment of phenylketonuria and sickle cell disease and $3.10 per infant to help fund the cost of treatment for children diagnosed with one of five disorders added to the newborn screening panel in 2003. The authority to collect the $3.10 fee expires June 30, 2007.

Summary of Bill:

Newborn screening fees for supplying services in specialty clinics are set at $67.50 per infant in statute (from $6.60) and congenital hypothyroidism is removed from the list of eligible disorders that receive treatment funding through the fee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2007.