Legislative Update: 4/2/12

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Senate Hears, Tables Newborn Screening Bill

With testimony from two MN-AAP pediatrician members offering qualified support, a bill was heard last week to allow the state’s Newborn Screening Program to use bloodspots for quality assurance and establish a consent program for longer term storage of spots and test results. The bill was tabled in committee, and its future is uncertain.

House and Senate Unveil Supplemental Finance Bills

The House and Senate unveiled budget supplemental bills containing some new spending and dozens of new policy proposals. Of particular note, the bills contain funding for a study of autism in the Somali-American community, language about establishing a “pediatric care coordination” service for certain infants and children, and a speedier prior authorization process for OT, PT, speech language therapies, and mental health services for some patients.

Annual Sponsors

Children's Minnesota
Gillette Children's
Hennepin Healthcare
University of Minnesota Health
Essentia Health
Mayo Clinic
Shriners Healthcare for Children-Twin Cities