PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amending chapter 246-650 WAC, Newborn screening, to include additional disorders to the mandatory conditions for newborn screening conducted by the department of health.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 70.83.030 and 43.20.050.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: A study commissioned by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration has recommended that every state should screen newborns for a standard panel of disorders. This panel has been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the national March of Dimes. Of the twenty-nine disorders recommended, sixteen are not currently screened for in Washington. The board intends to evaluate the evidence about these disorders against their criteria for adding disorders to the newborn screening program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: A panel of technical experts will evaluate the evidence supporting inclusion of the disorders. If supported by their findings, a broadly representative advisory group will be convened to further review [and] make recommendations for the board to consider.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Meetings will be open, and any written information or findings will be available to the public. Interested parties can contact Michael Glass, Director Newborn Screening, Washington Department of Health, 1610 N.E. 150th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155, voice (206) 418-5470, fax (206) 418-5415, e-mail mike.glass@doh.wa.gov; or Tara Wolff, Health Policy Advisor, Washington State Board of Health, 101 Israel Road S.E., P.O. Box 47990, Olympia, WA 98504, voice (360) 236-4101, fax (360) 236-4088, e-mail tara.wolff@doh.wa.gov.
May 11, 2006
Craig McLaughlin
Executive Director