LA HB322 | 2013 | Regular Session

* 1 in 100 are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) * CHD's are the leading cause of death in children under 1 years of age in our country. Pulse Oximetry is: * An assessment of oxygen levels in newborns before they leave the hospital which may indicate the presence of congenital heart defects or other serious health conditions. * Painless. It requires the application of a probe to the hand and foot. The probe does not puncture the skin. * Quick. A measurement can be read in 30 to 60 seconds. * Simple. It is easy for all healthcare personnel to perform. * Ready today. Every hospital has several pulse oximeters and can perform this test today! * Cheap. Costs less than other screening done for newborns, less than a diaper. * Life-saving. Early detection can save lives. Pulse Oximetry screening is just one way we can help save lives. Newborns who are diagnosed with a CHD before birth and before being discharged from the hospital have a very good chance of survival. This bill is about all of the other newborns who aren't diagnosed before going home. There are several examples of these children dying at home. A simple pulse-oximeter test could have saved these children and they could have received the immediate care they truly needed. Several states have already enacted laws for mandatory screening and have saved lives. http://cchdscreeningmap.org/ Louisiana needs to continue the example other states are setting and show that CHD awareness and treatment is a priority. Twice as many children die from CHD's then all forms of childhood cancers combined. Research for pediatric cancers is 5 times higher than congenital heart defect research.