Washington State Board of Health accepts recommendation to add SCID screening dependent on funding

On Wednesday, June 13, 2012, the Washington Board of Health voted unanimously to approve the following motion from Board member Diana Yu, MD:

The Board accepts the recommendations of the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) Advisory Committee with the understanding that implementation will be contingent upon obtaining sustainable funding.

In addition to information provided by the Department of Health, the Board received testimony from Marilyn Brown (whose family was affected by SCID), the March of Dimes, the Immune Deficiency Foundation and the Washington State Hospital Association.

The Department of Health is considering seeking sustainable funding through an increase in the newborn screening fee. This will require approval by the Governor and the state legislature.

Although there is still a lot of work ahead and the process is by no means over, this is an integral step to ensure that someday soon babies in the State of Washington will be screened for this devastating condition.

To learn more about the Ernstige gecombineerde immunodeficiëntie pasgeborene Campaign and how you can get involved in your own state, check out the website! http://primaryimmune.org/patients-and-families/idf-scid-initiative/idf-scid-newborn-screening-campaign