New framework will streamline evidence review and strengthen national newborn screening recommendations
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced a modernized framework for addressing national newborn screening topics including evaluating conditions to include in the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), the national guideline that informs newborn screening programs across the country.
The new approach is designed to build efficiency, increase transparency, and better respond to scientific advances.
“As a father and grandfather, I know there is nothing more important than giving every child the healthiest possible start in life,” said HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. “Newborn screening is one of the nation’s most successful public health programs, helping infants receive life-saving treatment before symptoms appear. This modernized approach will strengthen our ability to keep pace with advances in science while ensuring recommendations continue to be grounded in the best available evidence.”
Each year, states and territories screen more than 3.6 million newborns for serious heritable conditions that can lead to disability or death if left untreated. Nearly all state newborn screening programs use the RUSP to determine which conditions to include in their screening panels.
HRSA is providing supplemental funding to the Association of Public Health Laboratories through the National Center for Newborn Screening Systems Excellence (NBS Excel). The organization will convene a new stakeholder workgroup and develop findings and recommendations for HRSA’s review and consideration.
In addition to evaluating candidate conditions, the workgroup will address emerging issues affecting newborn screening nationwide. Meetings will be open to the public, and membership opportunities will be announced publicly. HRSA will continue to support independent evidence reviews and consider stakeholder input before making recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding updates to the RUSP.
The modernization effort reflects HRSA’s commitment to ensuring that the nation’s newborn screening system keeps pace with advances in science while supporting timely, evidence-based recommendations that improve health outcomes for children and families.
Read the Federal Register Notice.