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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
newborn screening; Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Purpose
Expands the Department of Health Services' (DHS) newborn screening requirements to include screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Background
The newborn screening program was established to ensure that testing for congenital disorders and reporting of hearing test results for newborns is conducted in an effective and efficient manner. The Arizona State Public Health Laboratory screens every newborn in Arizona twice, once at 24-36 hours of age and again at 5-10 days old, for 35 different conditions, including but not limited to sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, hearing differences and congenital heart defects (DHS).
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition occurring almost exclusively in males, characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, primarily affecting skeletal muscles used for movement as well as cardiac muscle. Muscle weakness tends to appear in early childhood and worsens rapidly. Affected children may have delayed motor skills such as sitting, standing or walking, and are usually wheelchair-dependent by adolescence. This condition is associated with a heart condition called cardiomyopathy that weakens cardiac muscle and prevents the heart from pumping blood efficiently, leading to arrhythmia, shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling of the legs and feet. Males with Duchenne muscular dystrophy typically live into their twenties (U.S. National Library of Medicine).
If there is a cost associated with expanding DHS newborn screening requirements to include screening for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Requires DHS, by January 1, 2025, to add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the state's newborn screening panel.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 25, 2024
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